News Headline
NFL content to be televised in 223 countries
NEW YORK: Fans of American football, National Football League (NFL) are in for a treat. Over 60 broadcasters from 223 countries and territories, throughout the world will receive NFL programming soon.
The content will exceed 70,000-hours during the 2003 season. The coverage will stretch across 24 time zones and will broadcast in over 30 languages. In India, viewers can catch the action on ESPN.
The season started yesterday with the NFL Kickoff which took place at the National Mall in Washington DC. The event concludes on 1 February 2004 with the crowning of the NFL champion at Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Texas.
An official release informs that for the first time since 1986, the NFL will come to free TV in China, the world’s most populous country. Thanks to an agreement with CCTV, China’s only national terrestrial broadcaster, the NFL will be made available in more than 300 million households with a potential audience of over one billion.
With a penetration of over 90 per cent throughout mainlaind China, CCTV-5, the network’s dedicated sports channel, will broadcast late-season NFL action leading into the 2003 playoffs.
CCTV-5 will culminate its NFL coverage at Super Bowl XXXVIII, when it will send an eight-person crew to Houston to cover the game and surrounding festivities for live broadcast.
NFL fans in Japan will also enjoy two new shows this season. NTV will debut NFL Club, a weekly programme featuring game highlights, player features and previews of upcoming games. Gaora’s Gridiron, airing every alternative week, is aimed at attracting new fans by combining the thrills of football with pop culture. NFL highlights and commentary will be combined with new and recently-released Japanese music videos.
In addition to new programming during the 2003 season, broadcasters who have finalised either new or renewed agreements to continue meeting the needs of NFL fans worldwide include ESPN Star (pan-Asia), ART (pan-Middle East); Craig Media (Canada); ESPN International (Global); Fox Sports Middle East (pan-Middle East); Star Digital (Turkey); UBC (Thailand).
NFL’s international media partners will not only air games this season, they will also carry NFL Films-produced magazines and archival footage and locally produced, NFL-themed programmes and specials.
NFL International senior vice president Doug Quinn said, “Our programming is designed to educate and entertain fans worldwide. Content will be available to satisfy the hard-core fans, as well as those exposed to the game for the first time. Through our broadcast partners, millions of fans will experience NFL football this season.”
In addition to game broadcasts, NFL programming supplied to international broadcasters for 2003 includes the 30-minute magazine show NFL Blast. Now in its sixth season, the show combines an entertaining style with an instructional flair.
With weekly highlights, player profiles, music videos and stories from around the world, viewers will get ample chance to learn about NFL football, the release says.
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.
