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BSkyB says Tony Ball to step down; company shares fall amid concern
LONDON: British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) Group stated today that its chief executive officer (CEO) Tony Ball would step down from his post.
“Mr Ball will continue as chief executive until a successor is appointed, which is likely to be well before his current contract ends on May 31, 2004,” the company said in a statement.
According to Reuters newswire, press reports earlier this month had indicated that James Murdoch, whose father Rupert owns 34 percent of the British pay-TV company, would take over the reins from Ball. BSkyB did not name any potential successors in its statement, but investors and analysts have expressed concern about James taking over.
The 30-year-old James had dropped out of Harvard to launch a hip-hop record label before joining the family business. Today, he is the chairman and chief executive of Star TV, News Corp’s Asian pay TV service.
Reports that Ball will leave, sent BSkyB’s shares falling through last week. Investors showed concern that the relatively inexperienced younger Murdoch will be imposed on them, AFP reported. However today, BSkyB’s shares climbed 1.45 percent to 630.5 pence, in the morning trading.
Ball has overseen a doubling of subscriber numbers since being appointed in mid-1999. AFP also stated that the senior Murdoch had hailed Ball as “one of the outstanding businessmen in Britain” earlier today.
However if James takes over from Ball, many potential pitfalls await him – notably a possible threat to the broadcaster’s rights to show live English Premiership football games, seen as the backbone of its service, AFP said. BSkyB’s live football coverage, which began in 1992, has proved the key to the broadcaster’s success.
Launched as Sky in 1989, the venture lost huge amounts of money before merging with rival fledgling satellite outfit BSB. Ball, one of Britain’s best-paid executives, is said to have overseen BSkyB’s success during a potentially treacherous time.
However analysts have expressed concern that Rupert Murdoch’s seeming dynastic ambitions could see the business hit trouble, AFP said. His other children Lachlan and Elizabeth also hold or have held senior posts in his empire.
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.
