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Discovery US to relaunch Health Network as FitTV
MASSACHUSSETTS: Discovery Networks US has announced that it will relaunch The Health Network on 1 January. It will be given back its old name FitTV. The basic cable network will have new exercise and wellness programming.
The channel has teamed up with fitness expert Jake Steinfeld. He will host new episodes of the show Body by Jake. Discovery had acquired The Health Network from the Fox Cable Networks Group in September 2001. An official release informs that the new initiative re-establishes DCI’s commitment to leading the industry in the health media category. The network will launch with 30 million subscribers with commitments to approximately 50 million subscribers over the next few years.
Media veteran Carole Tomko will be the GM of the network. She most recently served as VP of production and development for Animal Planet. Discovery Networks US president Billy Campbell added, “We have talked to a number of affiliates, and have identified a robust business opportunity in the health category that focuses on the multi-faceted world of fitness for the mind and body.
FitTV will be a companion network to the Discovery Health Channel, with high-energy, visually appealing programming designed for the millions of men and women for whom fitness is a way of life.” Steinfeld has emerged as one of the world’s great motivators for physical and emotional well-being adds the release. FitTV will showcase additional new exercise and wellness series and specials. Steinfeld added, “I can’t tell you how pumped I am to partner with Discovery to relaunch the network. Our goal with FitTV will be to entertain, inspire and educate viewers in all aspects of fitness and lifestyle”.
More than $81 billion is spent in the US on fitness and weight loss-related products each year. This, coupled with extensive discussions with operators, consumers and potential advertisers, confirmed that FitTV would meet the needs of a large, underserved audience. The new network will tap into their enormous and boundless appetite for health and fitness information with series and specials about exercise, wellness, nutrition and sports, among other health-related topics.
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.
