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Sony warns it will sue GCC if DD Metro airs matches, ESS allowed to do programming
MUMBAI / NEW DELHI: Sony Entertainment Television India reacted with outrage today to an announcement by Harish Thawani’s Nimbus Communications that national broadcaster Doordarshan (DD) has entered into an arrangement with News Corp controlled Global Cricket Corporation (the worldwide rights owner) for enhanced coverage on its terrestrial networks of the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup.
SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta asserted that Sony would seek unspecified damages from the GCC if DD were given the rights to offer a delayed telecast of any match outside what had already been granted to the national broadcaster. Dasgupta said that if DD wanted to air any match other than the 16 ‘Big Gun’ matches on DD National (all India matches, 2 Semi Finals and the Final) for which it already had telecast rights, it could only do so after the World Cup was over.
Dasgupta further dismissed as “kite-flying” a report that appeared in a leading financial daily Monday that rival ESPN-Star Sports had inked a deal with DD to do the presentation of pre and post-match fixtures as well as during the lunch and tea intervals.
The initial agreement DD had entered into with Nimbus (the revenue management company for World Cup telecasts over DD) covered the live telecast of 16 ‘Big Gun’ matches as well as 43 daily one hour Highlights on DD national. According to an announcement made to indiantelevision.com, Nimbus had stated that it had entered a new deal with DD covering the telecast of a total of 43 matches, including the ‘Big Gun’ matches, on DD Metro. All matches on DD Metro will be telecast on a delayed basis starting 9:30 am on every day of the Cricket World Cup, which lasts 43 days, the announcement said. If this is true what it means is that in addition to the rights for the live telecast of 16 matches, DD had secured the rights for delayed telecast of an additional 27 games.
Dasgupta said that if DD went ahead with the plan as had been announced then Sony would sue.
When contacted for a response to the assertions that Dasgupta had made, Thawani said he had no comment to make.
Keeping aside the merits or otherwise of the stances taken by the opposing players in the thrust and parry skirmishing that is going on, the stakes in this game are huge. After ambush marketing add another word to the lexicon – ambush programming. Whatever may be Dasgupta’s assertions, if ESS manages to pull this one off it would definitely be a major coup for India’s leading C&S sports broadcast network. Through this ESS would continue to remain in the mindspace of cricketing audiences without having had to shell out a dime for the rights.
According to Dasgupta, the move by ESS was legally untenable as the sports broadcasting network was a GCC affiliate. This would by extension mean that the rights holder GCC, after having sold the C&S telecast rights to Sony (for $ 255 million) was now actively working to scupper Sony’s commercial interests, Dasgupta said. ESS is a GCC affiliate by virtue of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp being a 50 per cent stake-holder in the ESPN Star Sports joint venture. News Corp has the controlling stake in GCC.
DD sources, meanwhile, while admitting that no deal had been inked as yet with ESS, said discussions were on. At the time of uploading this report, indiantelevision was unable to get an official response from ESPN Software India MD Manu Sawhney on the matter as he was not in Delhi.
Sources in DD further confirmed that director-general DD SY Quraishi had been in Mumbai today and had had discussions with Thawani regarding the issue of delayed telecast of matches on DD Metro. The DD sources confirmed Quraishi was in Mumbai to finalise the scheduling of the matches to be aired on DD Metro.
Prasar Bharati officials that indiantelevision.com spoke to appeared quite confident that they were on firm legal ground in the matter. According to the officials, the arrangement DD and Nimbus were entering into covered an area that the original contract (that Sony signed on to) had not envisaged. “Moreover, if it is going to be a delayed telecast, why should Sony get so upset,” they ask.
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.
