News Headline
Intelsat has pre-booked over 35,000 channel hrs for Olympic coverage
MUMBAI: Intelsat, the only global satellite leader providing Olympic Games coverage since 1968, has today confirmed that it has pre-booked over 35,000 hours of programming for 50 channels for this year’s Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
This represents one of the highest traffic events in the company’s history, and equates to what would be almost four years of continual programming carried within a 20-day period.
Intelsat is providing all-digital transmission of the Games for many of the event’s rights holders, using six satellites from its global fleet covering every ocean region.
The Intelsat system is carrying Olympic footage from Athens to North America, Asia and South America for a number of premier customers, including CCTV in China and GlobeCast, a leading international provider of satellite transmission and production services for professional broadcast customers. GlobeCast will utilise Intelsat capacity to offer high-quality services to ATV Hong Kong, TV Globo, Brazil, TVB Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei Broadcast Pool. OTE, the national telecom provider of Greece, will use the Intelsat system to provide occasional use services to its customers in Europe. Intelsat-carried Olympic images will be broadcast to a potential viewing audience of over 3 billion people.
“Reliability is the most important aspect of providing coverage of the Olympic Games to our clients’ viewing audiences,” said Graham Smith, head of Sport for Europe at GlobeCast. “We are utilising Intelsat satellites to deliver this content and we’re confident that during this exciting event our clients’ programming will benefit from Intelsat’s experience and reputation for unmatched satellite service.”
“The Olympics is arguably one of the most important events for bringing the people of the world together, and Intelsat is proud to play a key role in making that happen by enabling quality video distribution around the globe,” said Intelsat, COO, Ramu Potarazu.
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.
