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Chum Intl to launch channel in the Middle East
MUMBAI: Chum International (CI) which is the development and distribution arm of US media firm Chum has signed a format agreement with Orbit Communications for a tailor-made Star! channel to air across Orbit’s satellite footprint in the Middle East and North Africa.
Originating from Chum Television in Toronto, the channel will feature selected original CHUM programming from its music, fashion and entertainment channels. It will be delivered via fiber optic cable to London from where it will be uplinked to the Orbit satellite service. It is scheduled to launch tomorrow 28 January, 2006.
Chum International VP and GM Kevin Byles says, “We are very excited to be working with Orbit on what will be a hybrid of the best programming CHUM has to offer. Orbit’s Star! channel will feature Chum’s top original music, fashion and celebrity-oriented programming tailored specifically for Orbit’s viewers.”
Orbit senior VP western programming Khulud Abu-Homos says, “We are delighted to be working with Chum to give our viewers what they want – a channel devoted to the best from the world of entertainment. The Star! programming block, which we have been carrying on our Hollywood Channel, has proven to be so successful with our viewers that we are now moving into a full channel format.”
Oribit’s Star! channel will be seen in 23 territories in the Middle East and North Africa including Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Morocco, Cyprus, Algeria, Egypt and Pakistan.
Orbit is a digital, multi-channel, multi-lingual pay television service broadcasting in the Middle East and North Africa. With its package of 39 television channels and 20 music and radio stations, Orbit delivers the best in family entertainment, movies, news and documentaries.
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.
