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Fifa scores a double with 2010 World Cup rights deals
MUMBAI: Football’s global governing body Fifa has closed its 2010 World Cup telecast rights deals for the European territory.
Direct deals are done in the UK, Germany, Spain, France and Italy, while the rest of Europe is going via European Broadcast Union (EBU).
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has put the value of the European rights alone as in the region of one billion euros. According to reports, this is roughly twice the value of the European TV rights for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The decision to split the European rights into direct deals for the major markets and the EBU handling the rest was made by the Fifa’s executive committee on 29 June.
ESPN Star Sports holds the India rights for the telecast of the 2006 World Cup.
In the UK, the BBC and ITV will share broadcast rights for coverage of the 2010 and 2014 football World Cups. This is an extension to their existing deals. All 64 matches played during the two tournaments will be shared between BBC and ITV.
In Germany, pubcasters ARD and ZDF and paybox Premiere have gained. ARD & ZDF have the rights for 46 live games including important knock-out fixtures and those with the German team involved. Premiere, in turn, has exclusive rights for the other 18 games, and will be able to air all 64 games live. TF1 has the rights in France while Spain’s TVE and Italy’s pubcaster Rai and Sky Italia have won the rights for the respective regions.
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.
