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Eutelsat, Eurovision launch Hot Bird TV awards 2003
PARIS: Satellite operator Eutelsat and Eurovisioni, the international festival of cinema and television have announced the schedule for the Hot Bird TV Awards 2003.
Initiated by Eutelsat and Eurovisioni in 1998, the objective of the awards is to acknowledge the role of thematic television in today’s broadcasting environment and to recognise the quality of thematic programming broadcast through Eutelsat’s satellites. The winners are selected by a panel of media specialists from major publications Europe.
The jury is composed of European journalists specialising in media from publications including Le Monde (France), The Daily Telegraph (United Kingdom), The Echo Of Moscow( Russia), TV Sat Magazine (Poland), Milliyet Sanat (Turkey). The jury will meet from 5-7 September in Rome to select three short-listed nominees.
Awards will be presented in nine categories which are kids, sport, interactivity, music, news and current affairs, documentaries, culture, cinema and fiction. the short-listed nominees will be chosen on the basis of dynamic approach and creativity, quality of production, positive image by viewers.
Eutelsat CEO Giuliano Berretta said: “Today, more than 132 million homes in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East are equipped to receive TV programmes via cable or satellite TV more than four out of every ten TV households in 238 countries. The volume and range of thematic channels on offer is a driving force behind this expansion.”
The awards will be handed out in Vicenza, Italy within the framework of the SatExpo 2003 exhibition. it takes place from 2-4 October. Last year BBC World won in the news and current affairs category.
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.
