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Court dismisses MEN suit against DD Sports turning FTA
NEW DELHI: Pubcaster Doordarshan’s sports channel, DD Sports, has managed to break out of the Modi Entertainment Network (MEN) grip, which was contracted to distribute it, and become a free to air channel.
Ruling in favour of Prasar Bharati, which oversees the functioning of DD and All India Radio, the Delhi high court today dismissed a petition filed by MEN that it would lead to loss of commercial interest if DD Sports turned free, a Prasar Bharati official said. The court had set time till 14 July for deciding on the matter.
When contacted for an official response on the developments, MEN’s Amit Nag offered “no comments.”
Doordarshan Sports, launched in 1999 to give exclusive coverage to sports, Indian as well as international, went pay in September 2000 as per the prevailing trend then.
Having tuned a pay channel, Prasar Bharati followed another trend and hired MEN as the channel’s distribution and marketing agent on a revenue sharing basis. As part of the deal, MEN was required to increase the sports channel’s connectivity, promote and publicize it aggressively.
However, in reality, DD Sports, available through PAS 10 satellite, suffered from poor connectivity and lack of publicity. Since the pay route was not yielding desired results, Prasar Bharati contemplated making DD Sports free. This also suited its public service broadcaster’s image.
But MEN moved the Delhi high court earlier this year, saying Prasar Bharati proposal to make DD Sports an FTA channel would harm its commercial interests.
MEN had been distributing DD Sports along with Fashion TV and Hallmark. Since then FTV has gone FTA about a month ago as part of the countdown to CAS and also to avoid being censured by the Indian government. According to Prasar Bharati officials, turning of DD Sports into a FTA channel is bound to send positive signals to advertisers who have forked out Rs 880 million for the upcoming triangular series cricket featuring India, New Zealand and Australia. In addition, it is also likely to get more viewers for the first Afro-Asian Games to be held in Hyderabad in October.
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.
