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Boom in sale of DTVs forecast
ARIZONA: With digital terrestrial transmission gaining acceptance worldwide, high-tech market research firm In-Stat/MDR forecasts a boom in the sale of DTV sets.
According to In-Stat/MDR, with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandating that DTV tuners be integrated into all TV sets larger than 13-inches by mid 2007, in the US, the market will see explosive growth.
In-Stat/MDR predicts that:
— The worldwide DTV set market in 2007 will reach 58 million units.
— In the area of display technologies, the clean, thin-profile look of flat panel TVs is in demand from consumers who can afford it. New factories will be coming online in the next two years, which will increase the supply of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and plasma panels, thereby reducing their price.
— The increase in demand for DTV tuner components will allow price reductions. In-Stat/MDR expects the bill of materials for an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) tuner to reach $40 by 2007 and a Digital Video Broadcast Terrestrial (DVB-T) tuner to reach $35 in the same time frame. Ongoing integration of functions into fewer Integrated Circuits (ICs) will also be a large factor in lower prices.
One can expect more shipments of DTV sets with integrated tuners. This will end the life of products in the DTV monitor category. In addition, the launch of Freeview in the UK (quintupling the number of terrestrial TV channels available free to air) breathes new life into DTT. Other European countries are expected to go live with digital terrestrial TV in 2003, joining the UK, Finland, Germany, Spain, and Sweden. Digital terrestrial broadcasting will begin in Japan by the end of the year, joining the current digital broadcast satellite transmissions. This will encourage more Japanese consumers to buy digital rather than analog sets. DTV sets have also proven to be a popular item in South Korea and are growing in China.
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.
