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CASBAA study predicts $874 mn loss in TV industry due to piracy ’03 end
HONG KONG: The cable and satellite TV industry would have lost US$874 million in net revenues by the end of 2003 due to piracy.
This was indicated by the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) and CLSA Asia Pacific Markets (CLSA) in its report which studied piracy in the industry in all its forms.
The independent study, conducted by CLSA, CASBAA and its member organizations, highlighted the impact of unlicensed operators and pirate cable subscribers on regional economies including those of Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand, a company release specified.
The gross revenue losses across all sectors of the Asia Pacific pay-TV industry, from platform operators to independent suppliers of programming, are estimated to a total of US$1.29 billion for 2003. The cost of piracy is currently increasing at a rate in excess of 10 per cent.
“This is an alarming cost and it continues to escalate at a rapid pace. However, there have been too few efforts to regulate the issue,” the company release quoted CASBAA CEO Simon Twiston Davies as saying.
Twiston Davies explains that it has become essential for the industry, regulators and general community to work together to address a problem that is becoming more pervasive by the month.
The survey also shows that under-declaration of pay TV subscribers in India dominates regional piracy numbers, contributing to 72 per cent of revenue leakage. As for the other cities, Hong Kong stands out in comparison with other developed regional cities such as Singapore, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur, reporting a gross loss of US$28 million from pirated cable and satellite subscribers.
The release of the regional piracy report coincides with the CASBAA Convention 2003, which started today and will continue till 31 October in Hong Kong.
A separate session on the piracy issue titled Stealing It: Chasing the Dragons of Asian Piracy will be held tomorrow (29 October) at 2:30 pm at the Academy for Performing Arts in Hong Kong. The session will have a panel discussion on the technical, operational and legal implications of widespread pay-TV piracy in Asia.
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.
