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After Pakistan, Ten Sports bags Windies TV rights
MUMBAI: After Pakistan cricket, Dubai-based Ten Sports has added exclusive telecast rights for West Indies cricket for the next five years to its kitty. The reported combined cost of both acquisitions is around $50 million
The West Indies rights is for all telecast in the Asian market. The rights were previously with ESPN Star Sports.
The West Indies deal was signed on Monday, Taj Television Ltd (Ten Sports’ holding company) CEO Chris McDonald told indiantelevision.com. Taj has reportedly won the rights from Rupert Murdoch’s Sky Broadcasting. Although just signed, the deal takes effect from March 2004 when England tour the West Indies.
As reported earlier on indiantelevision.com, Ten won the Pakistan cricket rights in March. Ten Sports beat out bids from Transworld International (TWI) – who previously held the telecast rights – ESPN Star Sports and World Sport Nimbus to seal the Pakistan deal. The deal signed between the Pakistan Cricket board (PCB) and Taj TV gives Ten rights to all international matches hosted by the PCB for five years from April 2003 till the end of 2008.
With West Indies in the bag, Ten Sports holds the rights for all the major non-White cricket nations, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the West Indies (India cricket rights are with national broadcaster Doordarshan). Additionally there is Sharjah and Morocco, both of which are one-day centres that belong to Taj promoter Abdurrahman Bukhatir.
Elaborating on the implications on the latest rights acquisition and other issues, McDonald says, “We are now the number one channel on sports in India, and that includes cricket.” McDonald pointed out that Ten Sports alone would show a total of 213 one-day international cricket matches over the next four years while ESPN and Star Sports would have a combined total of 213 matches.
Ten expects to capitalise on the resurgence that hockey is witnessing in India with the national squad having won back-to-back tourneys in Australia and Germany. Coming up next month is the live telecast of the Champions Trophy being held in The Netherlands. There is also the Olympic qualifying tourney in early 2004, McDonald said.
Admittedly though, it is the WWE wrestling that provides Ten with its daily ratings fix. McDonald said Ten hoped to get in another WWE tour into the country this year as was done last year (in November).
Commenting on a post-CAS scenario, McDonald said Ten’s pricing of Rs 14 was less than half of what was being charged by ESPN or Star Sports (Rs 29 each). In such a scenario, Ten would become a far more attractive option for the consumer than the competition, McDonald asserts.
Click here for comparision of sports rights held by ESPN Star Sports and Ten Sports
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.
