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Growth in b’casting sector, liberalisation driving ROI via satellite
NEW DELHI: “The growth in the broadcasting sector, liberalisation in policies, exportation of content and IP/MPEG4 are driving ROI (return on investment) via satellite into India (in the media and entertainment sector).” This is what satellite service company Loral Skynet’s VP (strategic product marketing) Jonathan P Kirchner had to say on opportunities in the Indian satellite communication sector during the inaugural session of the 12th Convergence India 2004, which commenced here today.
In a session, chaired by ISRO, Department of Space, director – INSAT program, A Bhaskaranarayana, Kirchner shared his views on vertical and market segment trends, global activity drivers, trends in India and South Asia, and applications of satellite communications in media and entertainment apart from other sectors.
“Asia is a large, robust and complex market but it is witnessing spate of developments in IP networking, Internet access, private networking The critical enablers of ROI in India are creativity (applications), connectivity (global), competition, co-optation (partnership), cost (value) and culture (localization),” said Kirchner.
On trends in the global environment, he said that enterprise and government require end-to-end solutions, stores platforms are essential, mobility – GSM, marine, aero/aviation, Wi-Fi etc, video will eventually migrate to IP, new application – digital cinema/HDTV and pan-regional connectivity were the emerging possibilities.
The value drivers of communication satellite are its ubiquitous footprints, reliability and security, broadcast – point to many/multi-point, broadband greater than one MB, extension and remote access and speed of deployment, he added.
Loral Skynet, which offers solutions for movement of content, sees applications of satellite communications in DTH, cable distribution, satellite news gathering, pay-TV, broadband and Internet among other platforms.
In the same session, mobile satellite company Inmarsat Ventures Plc. founder and advisor Michael Storey described India as a competitive, one of the fastest growing telecom and “wireless savvy” market. “Businesses must exploit possibilities offered by mobile data,” he said. Immarsat, which has a liaison office in India, is currently having a distribution partner in VSNL. Eutelsat regional director – Middle East, Asia and Scandinavia, Jan Grondrup-Vivanco said that broadcasters / content providers, rather than solely focusing on India, can also tap pay-TV subscribers, mainly related to NRI segment.
“The widebeam, which is technically feasible and financially viable, provides Indian broadcasters/content producers opportunities to expand their operations as done by ABS-CBN in Europe,” said Vivanco. He stressed on the fact the NRI pay-TV market (approximately 850,000) might be too small in comparison to India but the assumed margins for Indian broadcasters is close to 70 per cent in comparison (targeting NRI segment) to five percent from pay-TV package in India.
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.
