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Star Sports collaborates with Airtel Digital TV and TATA Play
Mumbai: Star Sports, India’s leading sports broadcaster has announced an association with Airtel Digital TV and Tata Play to take the Tata IPL experience several notches higher for their subscribers. Together with the leading DTH players, Star Sports has introduced superior Dolby ‘Atmos’ experience and special features which will transform the Tata IPL experience on linear television. The special features are being provided complimentary to Star Sports subscribers of Tata IPL on Airtel Digital TV and Tata Play. The Tata IPL started on 31 March this year.
“We are thrilled to work with Airtel Digital TV and Tata Play to extend special technology features to the subscribers. We believe the new features will provide fans with an unparalleled viewing experience,” said Disney Star head – distribution and international Gaurav Singh Kapoor. “The Tata IPL is best viewed together with friends and families and these innovations will transform how fans watch and enjoy Tata IPL matches on linear television.”
“The association with Star Sports demonstrates our dedication to delivering an unmatched viewing experience for our customers. This collaboration will reinforce our long-term association with Star Sports and elevate the viewing experience for countless Tata IPL fans throughout India,” said Bharti Airtel CEO DTH & consumer business director Shashwat Sharma.
“Tata IPL is not just a cricket league but perhaps India’s biggest sports entertainment event,” said Tata Play chief commercial & content officer Pallavi Puri adding, “At Tata Play it has always been our endeavour to leverage technology to curate the best viewing experience for our subscribers. Our collaboration with Star Sports is a step in this direction as we look to elevate the IPL viewing experience.”
Airtel Digital TV and Tata Play offers additional feeds which include — Instant Highlights, Key Moments and Stats Feed by the press of a button on the remote. Instant Highlights showcases updated clips after every few overs while Key Moments showcases clips ranging from one to three minutes in duration. The Stats Feed, powered by ESPN Cricinfo allows fans to access statistical data to keep them engaged during the course of the match. The new features are available on all Airtel Digital TV and Tata Play SD and HD set-top boxes and all Star Sports subscribers can avail them free of charge.
In Sports, cricket and the Tata IPL in particular have been important catalysts in uniting families and communities, sparking exhilarating emotions among fans as they extend support to their favourite teams and players. With these tech innovations, Star Sports aims to bring Tata IPL fans closer to the game and each other while the association with Airtel Digital TV and Tata Play will offer cricket enthusiasts an immersive experience.
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.
