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Disney spreads wings with wholly owned non branded operation in UK
MUMBAI: This is a deal that marks a first for Walt Disney. In the UK the mouse is all set to launch its first wholly owned, nonbranded broadcast operation outside the US.
Reports indicate that Disney’s FTA channel will launch in the UK on the Freeview digital platform. Disney already has a branded pay TV service in the UK. The as yet unnamed new channel will go on air later on in the year.
Freeview is marketed by DTV Services. It is run by its three shareholders – the BBC, Crown Castle International and BSkyB. Disney already has a stake in several European broadcasters such as RTL in Germany and GM TV in the UK.
The Hollywood Reporter indicates that in the UK Freeview carries channels like as BBC 1, 2, 3 and 4; Sky Sports News; ITV News; Sky Travel; Sky News; U.K. History and other top branded services. Subscription is in the region of two million, but analysts expect that number to grow considerably in the coming years.
Freeview service provides 30 free digital TV and radio channels in addition to interactive services. It is broadcast from transmitters and received via a rooftop antenna.
The new Freeview deal places Disney as an existing, locally owned digital service while still giving ownership rights to Disney. Although foreign ownership rules will be relaxed soon in the UK outside companies are expected to demonstrate commitment to local programming.
A Reuters report further informs that Disney also sells content to other British broadcasters. It signed a deal with the BBC earlier this week for the exclusive terrestrial rights to more than 100 films, including Chicago and Pirates of the Caribbean.
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.
