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Channel NewsAsia joins Asiasat 3S
HONG KONG: Satellite Telecommunications company Asiasat and Singapore’s MCN International have signed a lease agreement. As per this arrangement, the C-band capacity on AsiaSat 3S will be used to broadcast Channel NewsAsia digitally across Asia.
An official release informs that Channel NewsAsia is an Asian television news channel, providing the latest in news and information on global developments with Asian perspectives. Its content also includes lifestyle and analytical programmes on topics ranging from politics, finance, business, technology to health, food, travel and entertainment.
From 1 September 2003, Channel NewsAsia will completely switch over its broadcast to Asiasat 3S. The channel will no longer be transmitted from Palapa C2 and APSTAR IIR.
MediaCorp News’ CEO Shaun Seow said: “This is another milestone for Channel NewsAsia since we started beaming to the region just three years ago. We’re extending our reach to more parts of Asia and want to provide viewers, including professionals and executives working, living and investing in the region with the resource to get ahead. Today’s sophisticated viewers demand more than just updated news. They want relevant information with the various nuances for them to make the right decisions.” MediaCorp News is the holding company of MCN International.
Asiasat’s CEO Peter Jackson said: “We are pleased to have Channel NewsAsia onboard Asiasat 3S. With Channel NewsAsia commencing their broadcast on AsiaSat 3S from 1 September, we will be offering an unmatched mix of news programming, ranging from global, regional and local perspectives. Channel NewsAsia will immediately enjoy the benefits of the enormous audience penetration of AsiaSat 3S reaching out to the numerous cable headends, rebroadcasters and individual television viewers across our huge C-band footprint”.
Headquartered in Singapore, Channel NewsAsia reports from the major Asian and key Western cities, including New York, Washington DC, London and Moscow. In September 2000, it launched its second feed, Channel NewsAsia (International). Its satellite footprint stretches from the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia to Australia. Channel NewsAsia claims to be viewed in 14.5 million homes and hotels in 19 territories across Asia.
Channel NewsAsia is available on Asiasat 3S in C-band with the following reception parameters:
Transponder: 3H;
Frequency: 3706 MHz
Polarisation: Horizontal
Modulation: QPSK
Symbol Rate: 6 Msym/sec
FEC: 3/4
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.
