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AsiaSat 7: Globecast to distribute DW’s new HD channel
MUMBAI: Asia’s leading satellite operator Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) has reached an agreement with Globecast to deliver Deutsche Welle’s English-language program in HD to the Asia-Pacific region.
DW in HD is an additional offering next to the existing TV channel in SD and radio services on AsiaSat 7. DW’s German-language program will continue its service across Asia via AsiaSat 5.
For the past 20 years, AsiaSat and DW have partnered to bring German information and culture to Asia. The enhanced service offering demonstrates their commitment to providing more high-quality and relevant content to Asia. The AsiaSat fleet’s comprehensive access to Asian TV viewers has enabled DW to upgrade viewing experience as well as harness audience with different language interests.
AsiaSat’s VP Marketing & Global Accounts Sabrina Cubbon: “I’m very pleased to extend our offerings of DW’s programs through the Globecast partnership. Both are long-term clients of AsiaSat. Moving to HD will definitely improve viewer satisfaction and is a key tool to strengthen our success in a competitive market!”
“For DW, 2017 will be a year of not only expansion but solidification as well,” said DW’s director of distribution and sales Petra Schneider. “Content, brand and technological improvement will be more dynamic than ever before – the ability to constantly engage your audience in a consistent way and adapting to their technological watching habits remain our most important goals. The move towards HD is a step in the right direction.”
Globecast managing director Biliana Pumpalovic said: “We are working in multiple markets to help broadcasters launch HD services and we’re very pleased that DW has turned to us and AsiaSat. We have a strong partnership with AsiaSat and we can help customers understand specific market requirements from both technical and business perspective.”
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.
