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CCTV breaks free of govt intervention
MUMBAI: China Central Television, for long dominated by behind the scenes government intervention, is finally breaking free with the Iraq conflict.
Viewers are being treated to nonstop, nonideological coverage of the war in Iraq on CCTV, according to a report in the Asian Wall Street Journal. From Day 1, the network’s two international-news channels have been running run nearly continuous coverage featuring footage of US troops, trucks and tanks streaming toward Baghdad, experts debating the merits of various bombs and missiles in the US arsenal and live broadcasts of world leaders. CCTV-1 has run similar footage in blocs of live coverage throughout the day, reports the AWSJ.
The Iraqi war is one of the first times CCTV is being allowed to cover an event of world-wide importance with relatively little political interference. “We’re following CNN and Reuters, and we’re staying close to the facts,” a CCTV producer has been quoted as saying. In his 13 years at the network, he says, this is one of the few times he has worked round-the-clock and with few directives handed down from “behind the curtain.”
The transformation stems from growing realization inside officialdom that the government’s alternately wooden or strident response to news events has damaged the country’s image abroad and turned off viewers at home, who increasingly look to Hong Kong broadcasts or the Internet for reports on breaking-news events.
Though CCTV is by far the dominant player in the market with about $850 million in revenue last year, its ad sales in some cities have taken a hit from local competition. Phoenix Satellite Television Co., a Hong Kong network popular among China’s urban viewers, has won fans with its stylish presentation and fast-off-the-mark news coverage, claims the ASWJ. With 12 channels and 1.1 billion potential viewers, CCTV has long been regarded as the most powerful news outlet in China.
And now its ratings have jumped between twofold and fourfold in the country’s three largest cities, while ratings for CCTV-4, one of the two international-news channels, have increased fourfold in Beijing and Shanghai and tenfold in Guangzhou, according to CVSC-Sofres Media, part of market-research group TNS Group. Advertisers have responded with CCTV-4 now running about three minutes of commercials every half hour.
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.
