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India rights bids submitted, nine in the fray
MUMBAI: Fear is the key? Fear of losing out on a piece of the India cricket telecast pie could well decide just how high the bids go above the already whopping $ 425 million composite floor price, when the BCCI opens sealed tender documents tomorrow morning. $ 550, 650, 700 million…?!
Just what the final quote will be no one is willing to lay any bets on. About the only common ground on this is that whoever takes home the booty will likely have to “break the bank” while going about it.
The bids were submitted this afternoon at a suburban hotel in Mumbai and at the end of the process presided over by BCCI vice-president and marketing panel chairman Lalit Modi, there were nine bidders in the fray.
Those who have submitted bids include: ESPN Software Ltd, SET Satellite Singapore Pte, Zee Telefilms, Reliance Infocomm, Ad Labs LTD (Reliance’s FM arm), Nimbus Sports International Pte LTD, Nimbus Communications LTD, British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) LTD and Echostar Satellite Ltd.
A significant absentee was Dubai-based Taj Television LTD (parent company of Ten Sports). News Corp controlled US DTH operator DirecTV, which had earlier been expected to make an offer, also stayed out of it.
The tenders will be opened in the presence of BCCI officials and all the prospective bidders tomorrow and after looking at the highest composite bid, the winning bid will be announced. At today’s meeting, Modi also announced that the contract signing for the winning bid would be done on 21 February after it has been ratified by the full working committee of the BCCI.
Looking at the list of those who have bid, the likelihood of the separate bids tallying up to a higher figure than the composite bid looks highly unlikely. By the looks of things composite bids have been submitted by ESPN, Zee, Sony and possibly Nimbus Sport. BSkyB would be expected to have bid for DTH rights in the UK while Echostar would likely have placed its offer for the US territory. Information available with Indiantelevision.com indicates that Reliance Infocomm has bid for broadband rights while sister concern Adlabs has bid for FM rights.
Of course just who has bid for what will be definitely known when the tenders are opened.
A point of note is that the floor price for the composite bid was reduced from the earlier announced $ 450 million to $ 425 million.
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.
