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ESPN-Star Sports vs 7 Star: Both claim victories
The legal brawl between Mumbai cable TV independent 7 Star Cable and pay TV sportscaster ESPN Star Sports over payments to the latter is far from over.
ESPN Software India has said it is going to take the dispute to an arbitration panel and that it may move the court once again if 7 Star continues to breach its contract. 7 Star says it is going to continue to take the ESPN-Star Sports feed from other cable ops with which it has alliances, even if the sportscaster continues to keep its integrated-receiver decoder box switched off.
“We have already paid the arrears for a month and 21 days and also deposited the bank guarantee for the remainder period with the court within the timeframe directed by it, ” says Raja, one of the promoters of 7 Star. “We are free to tap the two channels from InCable or any other provider who we choose to affiliate with. The court has not issued any order restraining us from airing the two channels once we meet the conditions it has set for us. “
So far both claim to have registered victories. While ESPN-Star Sports says 7 Star has been forced to pay up all its arrears, the latter says the former has reportedly not been able to prevent it from retransmitting the two channels to hotels that it services. “We have told them to discontinue the service to 1,518 rooms in hotels that take a cable TV feed from 7 Star’s headend,” says another partner Shamim Shaikh. “We do not have the technical capability to stop doing so. The court has agreed with us.”
According to Raja, the network is willing to come to an understanding in the cause of the cable TV industry, if the sportscaster network does not stay adamant about the subscriber base it wants to be paid for.
Says he: “We would like them to gradually up the subscriber base for which we pay and not drastically as has been proposed. An increase from 7,000 paid subs to 20,000 is too drastic a jump. If they are not open to a phased increment of subs, then let them hike the subscription fees levied per sub. Let ESPN-Star not do both: increase the subscriber base and even the sub fees. Hopefully it will come to a settlement. This industry is about relationships, let’s maintain them.”
The case looks more like a Mexican standoff and the final verdict from this arbitration could probably have far reaching consequences for broadcasters and the cable TV industry.
To read more about the dispute click here
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.
