News Headline
Star India to introduce VR for IPL 2018
NEW DELHI: With Star India, you can always expect the unexpected or something high-octane. In line with this philosophy, the broadcaster, along with its over-the-top (OTT) service Hotstar, is exploring the use of virtual reality, or VR, to heighten viewer experience during the 2018 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Speaking at a session themed ‘10 Media Transformations for 2018 & Beyond’ at the CII Big Picture Summit 2017 here yesterday, Hotstar’s consumer and revenue head Prabh Singh gave a sneak peek into the innovations being planned around the IPL, which included the VR experience for viewers.
“Yes,” Singh said when asked by session moderator and NDTV consulting editor Vikram Chandra whether he had heard correctly that Star/Hotstar was mulling introducing VR headsets for viewers in IPL matches in 2018.
Apart from VR, Singh divulged that Hotstar had been experimenting with other innovations such as score overlays to give additional benefits to subscribers watching cricket matches on the streaming service so they could not only watch the video but also enjoy extra information to add to the overall viewing experience.
On the sidelines of the event, when asked by Indiantelevision.com how the VR experiment would play out, Singh mysteriously said: “wait and watch”. Pressed further on the issue whether VR headsets would be given to random spectators in stadiums or select subscribers of Hotstar, he added that the logistics were still being worked out, which included a possible tie-up with a VR (headset) company, too.
Will the VR experience be extended to all the IPL matches? Singh refused to comment on the question.
Star India, earlier in the year, had won the five-year global broadcast and digital rights to the IPL for $ 2.55 billion, a sum that has been described as from being `staggering’ to `over-priced’ to simply OTT.
In September, when asked how the company planned to monetise the IPL, Star India chairman and CEO Uday Shankar (now elevated as head of 21st Century Fox Asia) in an interview to Indiantelevision.com had said: “All I know is that IPL is a very powerful tournament and cricket runs really deep in everybody’s bones in this country. To be successful, you just need to work on intensifying and heightening the experience of cricket further.”
ALSO READ:
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.
