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Ad supported content driving up video streams
MUMBAI: In India broadband is an area that could experience explosive growth once convergence kicks in through the likes of Reliance. In the US the business of Internet video streams is going from strength to strength.
More ad supported streaming content in 2004 has helped push usage numbers (aggregate tuning hours and video streams served) up by 118 per cent and 80 per cent respectively.
The latest iBroadcast Stream Report data from media research company Accustream Research shows the number of video streams served per month during January and February by the top ten sites averaged 523 million compared to 292 million in 2003. The report is a monthly research service that examines US audience preferences for streaming media.
AccuStream research director Paul A Palumbo was quoted in a company release saying, “There is more and better content available in 2004 that has moved out from behind subscription services. While there was a rush to move high value content behind subscriptions in 2001 and 2002, as audiences have increased and the ad market improved more advertising is supporting broadband streaming content this year.”
Broadband video available through sites such as Yahoo, MSN Video, MSNBC, CBS News and Fox News have augmented already significant streaming taking place behind subscription services from Real Networks, and hybrid subscription/ad supported outlets such as AOL Broadband and AOL Radio.
According to the report, there are more advertising supported streams available in 2004 than ever before, and ads are even appearing inside subscriptions streams. For Internet radio the tuning hours on the top ten sites per month in January and February 2004 averaged 137.5 million compared to 63 million in 2003.
“In an era of instant access and expanded content availability, streaming media is one of the most effective and opportunistic forms of brand extension since video tape” Palumbo added.
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.
