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Satellites to retransmit local TV stations in HD soon: Murdoch
NEW YORK: News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch has been quoted as saying that the technology is not far away from allowing satellite carriers to retransmit local TV stations in high-definition format.
“Eventually, the technology is coming for that, maybe in three or four years,” Murdoch told reporters after testifying before the Senate Commerce Committee on News Corp.’s proposed merger with DirecTV Inc. parent Hughes Electronics Corp.
A multichannel report has quoted Murdoch telling the committee that if he takes control of DirecTV, he would attempt to offer local TV signals in all 210 markets if technically and economically feasible. DirecTV expects to serve the top 100 by the end of the year.
The multichannel report adds that Murdoch and News Corp. did not commit to retransmitting local stations in HDTV if that’s the format selected by the local station in House testimony 8 May and in an earlier Federal Communications Commission filing.
According to the report, EchoStar Communications Corp. has repeatedly told the FCC that an HDTV-carriage mandate would consume so much bandwidth that the satellite carrier would have to abandon local TV markets.
The FCC has yet to decide whether direct-broadcast satellite operators have to carry local stations in HDTV.
Murdoch hinted to reporters that there might be a way around the capacity problem. “I think HDTV is basically going to be done by networks. We won’t need to repeat each HDTV 200 times,” he was quoted as saying in the multichannel report.
That comment suggested that during primetime — when HDTV is expected to see its most intensive use — a national network feed would replace the local signal and evidently cut out the affiliate from crucial advertising time during the key evening hours.
During the two-and-one-half-hour hearing — which seesawed between the DBS merger and the FCC’s June 2 broadcast-ownership rulemaking — Murdoch said News Corp. did not have the incentive nor ability to use DirecTV in an anti-competitive manner and the merger’s main purpose was to provide more formidable competition to cable.
But Gene Kimmelman, senior director of advocacy and public policy for the Consumers Union, called News Corp. a “programming juggernaut” that, when combined with the DirecTV asset, would drive up monthly bills for both DBS and cable consumers.
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.
