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Indiacast partners with ABS Broadcast to launch Viacom18 channels on Sky Glass
Mumbai: IndiaCast Media Distribution has partnered with ABS Broadcast to launch Viacom18’s marquee channels – Colors and Colors Rishtey on the streaming TV platform Sky Glass. Launched in October last year, the custom-designed 4K TV doesn’t require a satellite dish or box for it to work.
Viewers in the UK can now watch shows such as “Bigg Boss,” “The Big Picture,” “Dance Deewane” and others on the Sky Glass platform with more content added every day.
“We wanted to expand onto Sky Glass, and choosing ABS Broadcast to deliver proved to be a decision which has more than paid off,” said IndiaCast Media Distribution executive vice president and head international business Govind Shahi. Indiacast is a multi-platform content asset monetisation entity jointly owned by TV18 and Viacom18. “It’s important that our channels are accessible across as many platforms as possible, and I am pleased to say that Colors and Colors Rishtey are now available on Sky Glass for our UK audiences.”
ABS Broadcast managing director Sass Jahani said, “I am very proud of the teams at ABS, Viacom18 and IndiaCast for getting this service launched with such a fast turnaround, whilst also dealing with the many hurdles along the way.”
The addition of Viacom18 channels has set ABS Broadcast as the provider with most launches on Sky Glass.
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.
