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Sony Pictures Networks India acquires exclusive broadcast rights of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
Mumbai: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has acquired the exclusive TV and digital rights for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The 22nd iteration of the multi-sporting event will take place between 28 July and 8 August, 2022. The deal provides SPN with exclusive rights to broadcast the games in India and the subcontinent, including countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Maldives, and will also be available to livestream on its premium OTT platform, SonyLIV.
The quadrennial event will witness participation from 72 nations and will feature 19 sports along with eight para-sports across 11 days of the event. Competitions will be facilitated across athletics, badminton, swimming, basketball, boxing, wrestling, hockey, judo, and others. The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will witness sports like basketball, 3×3, wheelchair basketball, 3×3, beach volleyball, and para table tennis. Additionally, to promote women’s cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Birmingham Organising Committee announced the inclusion of women’s cricket in the T20 format. The ICC has fully sanctioned the Birmingham 2022 competition.
Over the past two decades, India has seen a steady growth in the medal tally at the Commonwealth Games, with the Indian contingent marking the 2010 Commonwealth Games as their most successful campaign with 101 medals. India’s next feat arrived when the nation secured the third position on the points table at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, where they showcased their best-ever performance as a non-host nation with a 66-medal haul.
Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer, distribution & head – sports business Rajesh Kaul said, “The acquisition of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games’ media rights is a proud moment for us, as our nation will get to watch the country’s biggest sporting heroes reach new milestones of success on our network. After the record-breaking Olympic Games, our journey will now move ahead with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and we are certain that our Indian contingent will win big. The 2022 edition of the games is of great significance to Indian viewers as women’s cricket makes its debut at the quadrennial event in the T20 format and will see India’s finest women cricketers representing team India. “
Commonwealth Games Federation Partnerships CEO David Leather added, “We are delighted that Sony Pictures Networks India will exclusively broadcast the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games across the country. India’s top athletes will be competing in Birmingham 2022, including the likes of Neeraj Chopra and Harmanpreet Kaur, so it is fantastic that Sony will be taking world-class sport into the homes of millions of people across the country.”
“This partnership is particularly important because India is the largest and most populous country in the Commonwealth and a real leader across the Commonwealth Sport Movement. This deal represents a huge vote of confidence in Birmingham 2022 and the future direction of the Commonwealth Sport Movement, so we are pleased to be working together on this exciting venture,” he said.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be available on Sony SIX, Sony TEN1, Sony TEN2, Sony TEN3, and Sony TEN4 channels starting from 28 July, 2022 at 11:30 p.m.
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.
