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Full house at indiantelevision.com’s CAS Summit
Mumbai: CAS stands for confusion, anarchy, stupidity. That is the way media expert and former Star India ad sales head Raj Nayak described the CAS conundrum in comments made during one of the key sessions of India’s first National CAS Media Summit held this evening at Mumbai’s Hyatt Regency Hotel.
In a day that saw major developments on the CAS front in Delhi, the summit organised by indiantelevision.com saw a full house with 275 attendees that included media planners, ad sales, marketing and distribution teams from the different channels. In all 28 distinguished panelists made presentations on the broad theme “Advertising Meltdown: A CASe of Conflict.”
The attendance was a clear indication of just how much interest the subject holds despite all the uncertainty that still surrounds CAS. While no clear-cut answers could be drawn, the Summit served its objective of providing a platform for the various constituents of the cable and satellite television industry – broadcasters, cable TV operators, media professionals, advertisers, analysts – to discuss and understand the impact of the rollout of conditional access systems on television advertising spends.
The Summit had a mix of presentations, panel discussion and set top box demonstrations by Multi system operators, advertisers, media professionals, television professionals. A cross-section of industry including Sab TV’s Kanta Advani, DD’s Mumbai director Mukesh Sharma, Zee Cinema’s Yogesh Radhakrishnan, TV Today’s G Krishnan, Broadband Pacenet India CEO S Ravindran, OTS Update’s Hemant Diwete, TAM Media’s LV Krishnan, amongst others participated in the forum as speakers and panelists.
Among the topics that were covered at the Summit: Pay TV Channels: Will advertisers flee, FTA Channels: will they rake in the moolah, Cable TV Channels: A Hidden Opportunity, Innovation: The Name of the Game in a CAS environment.
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.
