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Wurl takes celebrity news channel Hollywire to India on Samsung TV Plus
Mumbai: Wurl has partnered with celebrity news channel Hollywire to distribute and provide monetisation services for the digital channel globally.
Most recently, Wurl has secured distribution for the service on Samsung TV Plus India, adding to previous launches facilitated by Wurl on Samsung TV Plus platforms in the United States, Mexico and Brazil.
Hollywire is a global, 24/7 celebrity news channel that includes Bollywood news coverage, celebrity interviews, and red carpet event coverage for its channel on Samsung TV Plus India, which launched on 28 July.
“WURL offers an incredible team that has helped Hollywire expand internationally and grow to heights we didn’t know were possible,” said Hollywire CEO Tony Moras. “Their company is constantly educating us and providing Hollywire with worldwide business opportunities that have encouraged our business development effectively and easily!”
“Hollywire is a great success story. This celebrity news channel has parlayed its social media, Snapchat and YouTube fueled popularity into a full-fledged OTT digital channel,” said Wurl, SVP Business Development, Craig Heiting “Through our Wurl Network, we are taking Hollywire to the next level, expanding upon its brand’s success to bring it to an international audience.
India will have one billion video screens by 2024, 85 per cent of which will be broadband ready, according to Media Partners Asia. AVOD revenues are expected to be $2.4B by 2026.
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.
