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CBS extends deal for the Grammy Awards
MUMBAI: US broadcaster CBS and The Recording Academy have signed a new five-year extension that will keep the annual Grammy Awards on CBS till 2011. This year’s event was seen by nearly 46 million American viewers.
The deal further extends one of the longest broadcast partnerships in American television history. CBS has been the broadcast home of the Grammy Awards since 1973. The current agreement was set to expire after the
2006 Grammy broadcast.
In addition to the Grammy telecasts, the new agreement also includes various potential new live music and music-driven content properties over the course of the partnership, as well as a shared commitment to public service and educational content. In India the Grammy Awards are simulcast on Star World and Channel (V).
Viacom co-COO and co-president Les Moonves said, “Each February, CBS and The Recording Academy come together to stage one of television’s biggest and most entertaining annual events. But the mutual respect and camaraderie between our two organisations is
full-time, all-the-time. This has created a great environment to support our respective businesses and serve our respective audiences. We look forward to working with Neil Portnow and his outstanding team to deliver future broadcasts that take one of CBS’s signature nights to new heights over the next decade.”
Recording Academy president Neil Portnow says, “We are so pleased to have reached a long-term partnership with our great friends at CBS that extends beyond our signature Grammy Awards event, when the world tunes in to see Music’s Biggest Night. We, of course, will continue to recognise excellence in all recorded music through our Awards process and show. Now, fortunately, we’ll be able to bring live music, music-oriented programmes and public service
and educational content to viewers by keeping Grammy-related programming on the air throughout the year. This is a landmark commitment by both parties as we collectively spotlight the creative endeavours and timely topics that are important to music fans and music makers of all genres.”
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.
