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StarHub, ESS pen deal on EPL matches for next 3 seasons
MUMBAI: Singapore’s dominant cable platform StarHub and ESPN Star Sports have finally struck a deal guaranteeing live coverage of English Premier League football.
SCV and ESPN confirmed that fans will get to watch EPL matches for the next three seasons. ESS had earlier warned that it would switch off its channels on StarHub from Friday (27 August) if no deal was in place. Negotiations have been going on between ESS and StarHub for over three months on a fresh carriage agreement.
“StarHub CableTV and ESPN STAR Sports wish to announce that an agreement has now been reached for the continued broadcast of the English Premier League and related football programming in Singapore through to the 2006/ 2007 season,” a statement said.
The two companies had been unable to strike a deal for many weeks, and there were fears that Singapore football fans would miss out on their weekly fix of live matches. Now the only concern is higher cable subscription fees.
“The significantly higher cost of English Premier League broadcast rights in Asia, together with unprecedented coverage of up to ten matches a week on ESPN and Star Sports, were key factors influencing the negotiation process over the past few months,” added the release.
SCV has not ruled out the possibility of raising subscription fees, but is reported to have assured that any increase will be “reasonable.”
ESS had in an earlier release stated that it was continuing to provide its signals to StarHub since the football season kicked off on 14 August “in good faith that an agreement would soon be reached.”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
