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Prasar Bharati invites fresh tenders for DD Metro; last date for submission 4 July
Confirming reports that pubcaster Prasar Bharati had decided to offer fresh bids for slots on Doordarshan’s Metro Channel, advertisements appeared today in national newspapers inviting tenders for bulk airtime sales of 60-minute slots for a period of three years.
The tenders are for prime time slots between 7:00pm and 11:00pm. The slots are being auctioned without any floor price. The slots put up for bidding are segregated into four different 60-minute time bands – 7:00pm-8:00pm; 8:00pm-9:00pm; 9:00pm-10:00pm and 10:00pm-11:00pm. The last day for collecting the proposal forms is 3 July.
Reports indicate that the decision to call for fresh tenders was made two days after the last date for opening initial bids turned up blank. There were no proposals from the private broadcaster to bid for the 7:00-11:00pm prime time slots, as the floor price (RS 975 million for the 7:00pm to 10:00pm slot) was seen as being way too high.
In fact there was only one bid – from the Delhi-based content provider Moving Picture for a reported RS 5 million. This was for the late night slot (11:00pm to 00:30 am) slot which had no floor price attached.
The application for the new tender begins on 27 June, while the last day for the submitting the fresh tender is set as 4 July. According to the public notice issued by Prasar Bharati, the pre-qualification bid will be opened on 4 July at 3:30 PM while the financial bid will open on 5 July at 3:30 PM
Private broadcasters have not been very forthcoming on how this new offer would be received but there are issues other than cost involved for them.
The stipulation that only fresh content can be shown on the channel has raised hackles. There is also the feeling that Prasar Bharati will have to clearly spell out what it wants for the channel. Giving “piecemeal offers” makes it difficult for private broadcasters to map out long-term strategies, is the sentiment.
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.
