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BCCI floats India rights, two other tenders
MUMBAI: $ 350 million going on $ 400 million! The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today floated tenders for global media rights and reports indicate that the board has revised upwards what it expects prospective bidders to shell out for India cricket for the next four years.
Two other tenders for the appointment of a television production company and advertising sales agency were also floated today.
The tenders will be available for five days starting 30 January, wire agency United News of India quoted a BCCI release as stating.
The bids would be screened on the day following the submission and the winning bid would be selected on the day after, Lalit Modi, BCCI vice-president and chairman of the board’s marketing sub-committee, was quoted as saying.
Bidders can purchase the tender documents from the BCCI’s headquarters in Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai after paying Rs 100,000 per bid.
As regards media, the BCCI is unbundling cable TV rights, DTH, broadband, radio and mobile. The bids, which will run from 1 April 2006 through to 31 March 2010. As for what comes in terms of cricket action for the successful bidders, it is this: A total of 162 days of live cricket that includes 12 Tests, 30 ODIs and seven days of offshore cricket. There are also 70 days of First Class cricket that will come inbuilt with this package..
In an earlier media briefing, Modi had stated that parties interested in taking any particular piece of the India cricket rights cake could very well bid according to what specific areas interested them (territory or media). The BCCI has reportedly divided the global package into seven territories — and called it the international package — and is planning to invite bids for each territory separately too.
Also read:
BCCI fixes base price for composite India rights bid at $ 350 million
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.
