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BBC World launches new ad campaign and contests
MUMBAI: It is not just the newly launched news channels that are into high profile media campaigns. The Beeb is doing some of its own – across five cities at that.
BBC World is launching the new media campaign highlighting the BBC’s “impartiality and expertise” in news coverage, a company release says. The campaign focuses on the channel’s core strengths with messages such as ‘Everyone has a point of view; we make sure you see them all’, ‘One thing we never do is take a story at face value’, and ‘With our global coverage, news knows no boundaries.’
BBC World head of marketing Seema Kotecha is quoted in the release as saying, “We received an overwhelming response from audiences across the globe for BBC World’s exemplary coverage of the recent Iraq crisis. Add to that, the ratings from TAM in India and other media research sources like AC Neilsen, and the global Peoplemeter have been testimony to BBC World’s growing audiences. This media campaign reminds audiences that the BBC’s international standards ensure a balanced, thorough examination of every story, from every point of view.”
The campaign targets the channel’s core audiences in five major metros of the country, the campaign includes print advertisements in India Today and Business Today complemented by a competition on pre-paid postcards inserted alongside the ads. The contest offers participants a chance to win a large-screen digital TV and exclusive BBC World merchandise for 100 lucky winners. Translites at major airports in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore will target the section of air travellers, while hoardings in Mumbai and mobile vans traversing across Delhi reach out to the large audiences in these metros. The campaign runs for the months of June and July.
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.
