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Cricket highlights: ESS run out by DD
NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati today scored a moral victory when ESPN-Star Sports informed a city court that it would not any more telecast the highlights of the Indo-Pakistan cricket series.
This, however, was done at a hearing today after ESS made it clear that Prasar Bharati, which manages Doordarshan, changed video clip usage rules at the last moment late last week before moving the Delhi high court.
Pubcaster Doordarshan moved the Delhi high court on Friday, getting the court to restrain ESPN Star Sports from airing cricket-related shows packaged as highlights of the Indo-Pak one-day series. The court injunction had forced ESPN and Star Sports to abort its plans of airing a much-publicised highlights package of the first one-dayer at Kochi.
Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma today exulted, “This should set a precedence and also reinforce the fact that the public service broadcaster could not be taken for granted by private sector TV companies.”
Though Sarma was not forthcoming, sources in Prasar Bharati indicated the oragnisation is mulling claiming monetary damages from all those TV channels, including ESS, which had used DD-generated cricket video clips for mounting highlights and other cricket-related shows and selling air time at high prices during such shows.
ESPN India MD RC Venkateish refused to comment on the possibility of damage claims by DD, but admitted that under the “changed rules and scenario, ESPN and Star Sports would not air highlights packages.”
This would mean that ESS has to adjust elsewhere its committed advertiser-clients, which would not get exposure in any Indo-Pak one-dayers now on the sports channels. “We’ll have to look into that aspect, but I don’t foresee any problems,” Venkateish added.
Last month, DD had sent legal notices to 16-odd TV channels, pointing out that using cricket clips, generated by DD, at the rate of Rs 6,000 per minute for full shows was a breach of the terms set for usage of news clips. After receiving the legal notice, while some channels had apologised and offered payment, others had sought further clarification from DD.
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.
