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ESPN readies to bid for BCCI organised cricket
NEW DELHI: ESPN Software India, part of the Disney group, has expressed its keenness to bid for the telecast rights of cricket matches organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The rights come up for bidding later this year when a five-year agreement to this effect between BCCI and India’s pubcaster Doordarshan comes to an end.
“Of course, we’d look out to acquire good content and would act accordingly when the (BCCI-organised) cricket rights come up for bidding,” ESPN India MD R C Venkateish told indiantelevision when asked about ESPN and Star Sports’ plans for Indian cricket.
Others who have expressed their willingness to enter the bidding process include Sony Entertainment TV India, which has rights to some major international cricket, including the next World Cup, Indian cricket team sponsor Sahara group and the present telecast rights holder DD.
Asked whether ESPN and its joint venture partner Star Sports in ESPN Star Sports ( a venture meant only for Asian sporting rights) would be willing to share the rights, hypothetically speaking, with DD if the government brings in a law mandating such a measure, Venkateish, said, “We’d cross the bridge when we come to it.”
However, on the eve of the New Year, a senior SET India executive had told indiantelevision that the company would be willing to work out a deal with DD, on the lines of the one during the last World Cup, if it emerged successful in the BCCI cricket bidding process.
Last time round, the BCCI-organised cricket telecast rights had been bagged by DD for approximately Rs 2,500 million and the broadcast industry expects that this year the amount would almost double. Meanwhile, unable to persuade Dubai-headquartered Ten Sports to part with a larger slice of the forthcoming India-Pakistan cricket series, DD has been making noises that the government is poised to come out with a law that would mandate any telecast rights holder to share it with the pubcaster if it is of national importance for India, which includes cricket matches where the Indian team is participating.
Something to this effect was harped upon by Prasar Bharati CEO and the information and broadcast minister Ravi Shankar Prasad last Sunday in Chennai where both were present during the inauguration of the country’s first private community radio service in Anna University.
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.
