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8 US public TV stations create sales entity
LOS ANGELES : A new sponsorship sales firm has been established by eight public television stations in the US.
PBS has also become a member of the group. Public Television National Productions (PTNP) will represent programmes released by these stations for national public television distribution. The stations say they realised that securing underwriting for public television programmes helps bring some of the best of television to the screen, while giving sponsors a visible connection to public television’s quality reputation.
In addition to PBS, membership includes the principal public television stations. They include KCET/Hollywood; WTTW, Chicago; KQED, San Francisco; KERA, Dallas; KCTS, Seattle; WQED, Pittsburgh; Oregon Public Broadcasting, and Connecticut Public Television.
Programmes range from cooking series such as Mexico: One Plate at a Time, a WTTW production hosted by well-known Chicago-based chef Rick Bayless, to PBS Hollywood Presents, primetime original dramas produced at the legendary studios of member station KCET. The series’ latest production is The Gin Game starring Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore, in their first television acting reunion in almost 40 years.
The CEO of PTNP is Jay Campbell, who comes from Cable Ad Ventures, a television development, sales and production company he has headed for 20 years. Campbell introduced American Family to Johnson & Johnson, which resulted in their exclusive sponsorship of the PBS series, the first primetime drama on network television to feature a Latino cast.
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.
