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ESS gives counter offer to DD on programming
NEW DELHI: The ESPN-Star Sports-Doordarshan cricket case took another twist today with ESPN Software country head, Manu Sawhney, reported to have met up with Prasar Bharati chief executive, KS Sarma, around noon to iron out the areas on concern.
According to Prasar Bharati sources, Sawhney is understood to have made a counter offer to DD: that the national broadcaster produces its own pre and post match programmes and also allows ESPN-Star Sports to do another 30-minute programme on the DD platform.
When indiantelevision.com contacted ESPN India around 1:15 pm, the official spokesperson declined any comment.
What may tilt the balance in favour of ESS is the fact that the person in DD, a senior sports programming producer, who had assured the top brass of Prasar Bharati that DD has the capability of doing pre and post match programming in-house, has gone on leave on a personal and urgent family emergency.
Another area of concern for ESS is the telecast fee that DD is demanding from the former for a half an hour slot that is more than the normal telecast fee, according to Prasar Bharati sources. DD has also insisted that ESS should not promote its logos or the channels on the DD platform.
DD is yet to take a final decision on the matter whether it would have ESS on its platform or produce the pre and post match programmes in-house or do both. That is, allow ESS to buy time slots on DD for pre and post match programmes and also do something in-house.
“A final decision, based on the observation of director-general of DD, SY Quraishi, would be taken by evening,” a source close to the cricket deal making told indiantelevision.com sometime back.
In another development, DD also had a meeting with its marketing agents for the World Cup cricket, Nimbus Communications, recently and discussed the ESS proposal, amongst other issues.
According to information available, Nimbus is to give DD a no-objection certificate on the ESS proposal to buy time on DD platform to produce cricket-related programmes. Nimbus is understood to have said that ESS can produce programmes on DD provided the production is not done from the actual locations in South Africa as it may result in revenue loss for Nimbus.
The NoC is still awaited from Nimbus as DD wants it before taking a stand on ESS proposal as the latter does not want to get involved in any arbitration matter over this issue.
When contacted, Nimbus CMD Harish Thawani said he was not at liberty to discuss detailed clauses but said that the intimation given to DD was that they were free to pick anybody to do programming for them. Thawani, however, stressed that if ESS were assigned the task then DD has to ensure that no ESPN Star Sports branding appeared anywhere on the show. This was to protect the interests of Sony Entertainment (which has the C&S telecast rights), he clarified.
Last week, while addressing a press conference, Sarma had said that DD would decide by Monday whether it would go to bed with ESS or produce cricket-related programmes in-house.
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.
