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EPL, BskyB deal runs into hot water with EU
LONDON: This is a move aimed at preventing monopoly in the British football television market. The European Commission is poised to block the sale of English Premier League live football television rights to Rupert Murdoch’s BSkyB television. The deal was struck in August.
Earlier the Premiership used to sell live broadcast rights in one block. This year it had separated the rights into four packages in order to get around the Commission’s criticism that the old arrangements favoured large media buyers. This limits consumer access to top-flight football. However, BSkyB got the four packages for more than ?1billion. It was able to cement its position as the only UK broadcaster to screen live Premiership games for another three years.
A London business newspaper has indicated that the European Union’s executive branch wants the bidding process be re-started in a more competitive fashion. The European Commission will send BSkyB and the Premier League a list of objections to their agreement. The agreement gives the pay TV firm exclusive rights to broadest live Premiership games for three years starting next year. The two companies will then have two months to respond after the list is sent.
The Premiership also runs the risk of being fined for not furnishing the European Commission with information about the deal in advance. EU Competition Commissioner Mario Monti has expressed concern that BSky B grabbed too much of the market. He noted that this was bad for consumers as competition was less.
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.
