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Debate on for digital India stack consensus: Sudhanshu Vats
MUMBAI: Viacom18 group CEO Sudhanshu Vats is of the opinion that net neutrality is essential for the evolution of society but firmly believes that illegal and pirated content can’t be made available to all in the name of net neutrality.
Vats, who also happens to be the present chairman of BARC India, said that the ratings organisation has made a solid beginning but will have to iron out some glitches (like niche channels’ measurements) as it continues to evolve and that the rollout of digital measurement would depend on how soon the industry stakeholders bring themselves on the same page on issues under debate, including formation of an Indian stack for benchmarking digital data.
“Net neutrality is essential and the net should be as neutral as possible because that’s in the best interest of a functional democracy,” Vats told indiantelevision.com in an interview, adding, “My view is clear: illegal content should not be made available but then enforcement is not always that easy.”
Viacom18, which spans businesses such as film production and distribution of content on TV and digital space, has been working extensively and intensively on anti-piracy issues along with the Indian government and other media companies in recent times.
Elaborating on his views on tackling the menace of video and content piracy, which is becoming a headache for content owners globally, Vats said, “At times, consumers too are not clear on legal and illegal content… (and) in my view piracy should be tackled through a three-pronged approach of legislation, enforcement and consumer awareness.”
Making a case for introducing economic disincentives for arresting flourishing piracy, Vats added that if content was made available to consumers at “competitive price points”, it would be a “big deterrent to piracy” and such business models.
Speaking on BARC India, Vats highlighted fidelity of data has improved considerably and tent-pole events on television — from a big channel launch to a new program introduction and all the way to an important news break event in an hour — are captured and show up with a very prominent spike. “The areas where more work needs to be done are the measurement of niche channels by BARC and management of volatility (high fidelity brings high volatility) by all stakeholders,” he explained.
The initiatives like return path data (RPD) and premium panel will help improve the measurement of niche channels, Vats said. BARC has announced one partnership with DEN Networks for collecting additional viewership data via RPD from the MSO’s consumer-premises STBs, and negotiations are on with some other DTH platforms and MSOs.
Vats lauded the measurement agency’s role saying data is more robust, transparent and objective (compared to an earlier system). The sample size, which has already been dialed up to 32,000 (almost four times the size of the erstwhile measurement system), will be further bumped up to 40,000 by next year and even further in the years to come.
Asked about the much-awaited rollout of digital data by BARC, Vats explained, “There are debates (happening presently) around all digital players being a part of the measurement, equitable methods /process used for data capturing from all players and the more holistic India stack/dmp for representation and publishing of the data. All the stakeholders at BARC are debating these issues and the time-frame of publishing digital data will depend on the speed of alignment and approach taken by the stakeholders.”
Keep tuned in and watch this space for the full text of the interview with Vats where he speaks on a wide range of subjects, including the evolution of the Indian media and entertainment sector, regulations, Viacom18’s businesses, how programming strategies are conceptualized with the help of data crunchers, why it is important for media companies to have their own data analytics centers and much more.
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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.
