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Adhikaris see early breakeven for Marathi channel, unique space in news
MUMBAI: Markand Adhikari is all set to launch two channels in October. His initial investment: Rs 250 million. “It will be a 50:50 debt equity ratio. We will later scale it up to Rs 500 million in one year’s time,” he says.
Mi Marathi, the Marathi entertainment channel, will have three hours of original programming in prime time between 8-11 pm and will also run news content. Adhikari has a bank of 3,000 hours of programming which ran on Doordarshan’s Marathi channel with popular hits like Damini. This gives him the confidence of breaking even within three to six months of launch.
“For us, the running cost is the bare minimum. We can amortise costs as we will be sharing the common infrastructure which we are creating for the current affairs and news channel. Besides, our brand is already popular among Marathi viewers who have seen our shows on DD Marathi,” he says.
The Marathi channels, he estimates, make a business of Rs 750 million a year. “We see a 20 per cent growth, largely fuelled by local advertising,” he says.
Mi Marathi will have to contend against three strong regional channnels – Zee Marathi, ETV Marathi and DD’s Sahyadiri. But Adhikari believes there is still space for a fourth player, considering the per capita income in the state and the size of the market.
But what about Janmat, which is entering the crowded news channel genre? Adhikari believes the unique positioning of this channel will contribute to its success. “I am not competing against the heavyweights like Aaj Tak, NDTV, Star News and Zee News. I am creating my own space,” he says.
Like what he carved out so perfectly for Sab TV, positioning it as a comedy channel. Janmat will be the first interactive and current affairs channel in the country with 70 per cent of prime time shows having a large audience participation component. It will have bands targeted at all the demographics – youth, male, women, and kids, with anchors ranging from stalwarts like Vir Sanghvi to Karan Thapar and Harish Gupta. “We will have glossy sets. The channel will be like a daily magazine on the electronic medium. We have already created three large state-of-the-art studios in the heart of Delhi and two in Mumbai,” Adhikari says.
How does Adhikari foresee growth for listed company Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network Ltd? “It can only grow from now on. In the last quarter ended 30 June 2005, the net profit stood at Rs 10.82 million. We expect to produce more content for channels. We will exceed Rs 150 million worth of content supply to SET India this fiscal,” he says. Early this year, Sony Entertainment Television acquired the SAB TV brand, along with 1,305 hours of programming, for Rs 570 million. The deal also assured Sri Adhikari Brothers of content supply worth Rs 750 to SET India over a five-year period.
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.
