News Headline
Discovery launches gender-specific lifestyle networks
MUMBAI: After the launch of their lifestyle channel – Discovery Travel & Living – the Discovery Networks International is now spreading its wings with the launch of gender-specific lifestyle channels, namely Discovery Home & Health for females and Discovery Real Time for males.
While Discovery Home & Health was launched on 27 March in Latin America, it will set foot in the UK on 7 May. Discovery Real Time will also launch for the first time in the UK on the same day.
Discovery Home & Health will cover issues such as beauty, parenting, relationships and well-being. The new channel will be initially available in more than 35 countries. The Asia launch is expected later this year. Two of the signature series of the channel will be Buff Brides and A Baby Story.
On the other hand, Discovery Real Time will showcase local and international programming on topics such as home improvement, sports, gaming and technology. One of the key series on the channel will be American Chopper and Overhaulin’, among others. The network is optimistic that at the time of launch, Discovery Real Time will reach 10 million UK subscribers. The rest of Europe, as well as Asia and other international markets, are scheduled to receive the channel later this year.
Discovery Home & Health and Discovery Real Time join the flagship lifestyle brand Discovery Travel & Living to launch as part of Discovery Lifestyle Networks, a portfolio of channels available outside of the US. Discovery Travel & Living first rolled out last October in India, followed by Latin America and other parts of Asia in January, the UK in February, Italy in March and Taiwan this month.
“We are committed to defining and investing in the lifestyle genre worldwide. Having successfully introduced these unique and outstanding new brands to audiences in Europe, Latin America and Asia, we will now shift our focus to acquiring and developing the most innovative and entertaining lifestyle content in the world,” Discovery Networks International senior VP (creative development and brand management) Rebecca Batties was quoted as saying.
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.
