News Headline
Channel Guide achieves turnaround; posts profit
MUMBAI: Channel Guide India Ltd has posted a net profit of Rs 721,000 for the year ended 31 March 2003 as against a loss of Rs 15.28 million for the previous year.
The listed company runs what it says is India’s first and only FTA digital info TV channel catering to the promotional needs of the entire entertainment industry – television, films, music and events.
The company also posted an income of Rs 14.59 million for year ended 31 March 2003 as compared to Rs 12.24 million for the previous year. A press release states that the turnaround can be attributed mainly to the commencement of revenues and stringent cost controls.
“Incidentally we are very upbeat about the opportunities than CAS will throw open to FTA channels in general and Channel Guide in particular,” says Channel guide COO ravi Deshmukh.
The company has drawn up an ambitious plan that is proposed to be implemented in three phases:
Phase I – TV Info Channel (already on air)
Phase II – Info TV Channel.
Phase III – Interactive TV with t-commerce applications such as teleshopping, Video on Demand (VOD).
The company currently operates a 16 hours a day ( IST 9am to 1am) TV Channel providing a unique promotion platform for India-specific promotion of TV channels and content, films (both Hindi and English) intended for theatre release, music and events (both ground and televised). The statement says that the thrust is to ensure that the presentation is customised to meet the promotional needs of the broad spectrum of content providers on one hand and the information needs of the viewers on the other hand. The programmes and channels are classified as per language and genre at the primary level and time band at the secondary level.
The company has recently launched first ever satellite video delivery linked cable marketing services.
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.
