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India to play a key role in BroadcastAsia2004
MUMBAI: Asia’s premier electronic media event BroadcastAsia2004 will be held in Singapore from 15 – 18 June. Themed Redefining Broadcasting, BroadcastAsia2004 will encompass the entire spectrum of the Electronic Media industry.851 exhibiting companies from 45 countries are expected to participate in the event.
“The whole industry is revolving rapidly and the impact of digital technology has redefined the broadcast industry. BroadcastAsia2004’s aim is to provide a forum for companies in the industry to discuss these vital issues and share insights on industry developments,” said Singapore Exhibition Pte Services Limited (SES) Project Director, communications events, Ho Ko Leong. SES is the organiser of the event.Talking about India’s participation in the event, Leong offered that they would be having more Indian companies participating in the show this year.
“We will be doing more visitor promotion trips to India because we feel that Indian companies have a lot to offer the world and BroadcastAsia will serve as a platform for Indian cinema operators to source suppliers of digital projectors, servers and digital cinema systems, while production houses will find the most cutting edge special effects and post-production software.”
Leong pointed out that India’s software skills and competitive digital production facilities would be sought after by broadcasters and content providers as the country enjoys the added advantages of economical, qualified labour and an English-speaking population.
“BroadcastAsia2004 will also offer Indian companies opportunities to promote their skills in this area to the Asian broadcasting scene,” Leong said.
Leong identified Asian D-Cinema Summit, DAB Conference and Media Asset Management as key sessions to be held during the event.
The Asian D-Cinema Summit will discuss on Digital Cinema in Asia. The Summit aims to set the direction for the industry by addressing the key issues of business models, rights management, delivery modes and security. Experts from Eng Wah, GDC Technology, Mukta Adlabs and Singtel will share their views and vision on the topic.
Digital Cinema Day on 16 June included facility visits to one of Eng Wah’s digital cinemas at Suntec and movie screenings apart from various other exciting activities. Visitors can also attend important talks at the Asian D-Cinema Summit.
The DAB Conference will highlight developments in the world of DAB through the experiences and success stories of leading DAB players in Asia and Europe. The conference will also probe new revenue streams that can be generated and their business potential.
Media Asset Management conference will look into latest technologies and trends for media asset management, including a case study on Iran Broadcasting.BroadcastAsia2004 has roped in many prominent personalities from the industry to speak in the event. They include Digimax CG supervisor Douglas Creel and Digimax chief operating officer Nickson Fong.
Mukta Ad Labs chief operating officer Dr. Sunil Patil will be one of the panelists in a panel discussion on D-cinema in Asia – The Way Forward, to be held on 16 June. MediaCorp Radio vice president, technology services, Assad Bagharib will speak about SmartRadio.
“We expect 9 delegations from Taiwan, India, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand and China. However, there may be more apart from these,” informed Leong. He said that they didn’t have any delegations from Europe yet.
“The number of visitors attending BroadcastAsia has increased over the years,” said Leong. He said 12,000 visitors were expected to attend this year’s event while in 2002 it was 10,951.
“The number of exhibiting companies has increased. 649 exhibiting companies from over 41 countries participated in BroadcastAsia2002. This year, we have surpassed the number of exhibiting companies in 2002. To date, we have 851 exhibiting companies, which will participate in BroadcastAsia. There has also been an increase in the number of participating countries from 41 in 2002 to 45 this year,” offered Leong.
Leong identified areas where they would be facing challenges while staging an event of this magnitude.
“Challenges include maintaining and expanding the broad range of solutions exhibited, attracting key movers and shakers of the industry to the event, to have the critical mass of exhibitors and trade visitors, and maintaining BroadcastAsia as a meeting point for major industry players. The biggest challenge, however, the biggest challenge is ensuring that the show theme is relevant to the current state of the industry,” offered Leong.
Leong confirmed the recovery of Singapore industry after last year’s SARS scare. He pointed out that business travellers were travelling to the country again.
“Recently, Singapore Airlines reported that that their passenger load has returned to normal. These are all very good signs,” Said Leong.
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.
