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Star India dedicates 8 channels for 24×7 coverage of Rio 2016
MUMBAI: Living to its campaign tag line #issebadakuchnai, Star India will be pulling out non-stop coverage of the Rio 2016 Olympics games by dedicating eight channels to the blockbuster event on a 24×7 basis. Beginning 5 August 2016, the Brazil Olympics games will be broadcast in two languages, English and Hindi.
Apart from the eight channels, Star India will extensively cover the global multisport event on its OTT platform Hotstar. Together Star Sports and Hotstar will broadcast 3000 plus hours of live content from the Olympics offering Indian sports fans every opportunity to catch every medal live.
Star Sports HD channel cluster (Star Sports HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4) will mirror the SD one (Star Sports 1, 2,3, 4). Star Sports1 and 4 and its corresponding HD feed will have the English language telecast and Star Sports 2 and 3 with the corresponding HD feed will telecast the Hindi coverage.
Star Sports CEO Nitin Kukreja said, “Star Sports has been at the forefront of establishing a multi-sport culture in India. While cricket continues to reach new heights, Indian sports fans have already shown their love for kabaddi and football. The Olympics are the pinnacle of a multi-sports event, and as India prepares to send its largest ever contingent, Star Sports is leaving no stone unturned to provide the most comprehensive access to Indian sports fans. We will provide unprecedented coverage by dedicating eight channels on a 24×7 basis across the entire duration of the event. Also for the first time ever, the Olympics will be broadcast (24×7) in two languages, English and Hindi.”
Talking about the numbers, Kukreja said, “Rio 2016 is something that goes beyond advertising and viewership numbers. As a brand, we truly believe in that India is getting ready to accept more and more sports. That the largest contingent going to the Olympics this year from India is remarkable in itself.”
Apart from this, Star Sports has also exclusively empanelled an elite panel of International and Indian Olympians as well as sports experts who will share, analyse and connect with the Indian viewers as live actions unfolds at the Olympics. This select list of eminent sports personalities includes Ian Thorpe, Prakash Padukone, Anjali Bhagwat, Viren Rasquinha and Rehan Poncha. Holding them together would be the credible voice of presenter Paula Malai Ali in English, while in Hindi, Divya Jaitley, the well-known face amongst Indian sports presenters will be engaging the viewers.
Star’s video streaming platform Hotstar will be rolling out an unprecedented coverage of the Olympics, with 14 live feeds consistently and up to 36 concurrent seeds at peak times on the Olympics video player, available to users on demand through the event.
Hotstar CEO Ajit Mohan said, “While Hotstar is covering Olympics for the first time, we are excited that we are bringing an all-round coverage of the Olympics for the Indian digital user that will be the best in the world. Like in our coverage of other sporting events, our focus will be not just on making every moment of the Olympics available to the fans but also provide them the ability to create personalised, interactive experiences that allow them to follow and watch what is of unique interest to them.”
Coverage of Olympics has created new digital benchmarks in the past in North America and Europe, and with Hotstar emerging as a primary screen in affluent metro homes in India, the platform is seeking to break new records on the breadth of coverage and viewership. Central to Hotstar’s offering to sports fans will be the rollout of an interactive, data rich Olympic player on the web where users will have the option to switch between the 14 live feeds, have access to day wise listing of events and medals tally, and the ability to personalise the experience by following specific countries and sports disciplines.
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.
