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Indian Oil Cup tri-series: DD to show 90-minute highlights
NEW DELHI: A day after the Supreme Court poured cold water on pubcaster Doordarshan’s hopes of arm-twisting the terrestrial feed from Ten Sports for the upcoming tri-series cricket in Sri Lanka, the two parties have reached agreement for a highlights package.
As per the terms of the deal, DD will show a daily 90-minute highlights package of the matches played, which will be broken in two parts.
The deal was agreed upon a day after sports broadcasters, in a meeting with government officials, expressed concern on the issue of sharing with DD on a mandatory basis feed of any sporting events considered of national/public importance.
After a spell of protracted negotiations today between the pubcaster and the Dubai-based Ten Sports, it was agreed that the latter will make available a highlights package comprising clean feed for terrestrial broadcast on DD National.
DD, which in the past has boasted of its terrestrial reach facilitating a good crop of advertisers, will manage the marketing of the highlights package. The revenue generated, however, will be equally shared between Ten and the pubcaster.
A DD official while admitting that the turn of events for the Lankan tri-series has not turned out as expected (read, in favour of the pubcaster), said, “At least we would have the highlights for millions of our viewers, most of who would have to do without the excitement of live cricket where the national team too is participating.”
Ten Sports, whose CEO Chris McDonald is in India and led the negotiations on behalf of his company, was not available for comments.
To facilitate airing of the highlights package, DD would also extend its terrestrial transmission by about 30 minutes beyond midnight, an official of DD said.
In a short hearing yesterday, the apex court had restrained the Kerala High Court from passing any order on a public interest petition seeking sharing of the live telecast feed (generated by Ten) of the Indian Oil Cup tri-series with Doordarshan.
SPORTS BROADCASTERS CONVEY CONCERN TO GOVT.
With the issue of sharing sporting events with the terrestrial broadcaster (irrespective of the rights holder) becoming a hot potato, a clutch of private sports broadcasters met up with government officials on Thursday to discuss the matter.
An official of the information and broadcasting ministry today told Indiantelevision.com that “some concerns” were expressed by broadcasters who say they acquire rights of events at a huge cost and sharing it with DD would “upset their business model.”
Still, the government official maintained that some of the arguments extended by private broadcasters against having such a law, a la the UK and Australia, for example, may not cut much ice with policy-makers.
the official also added that since the matter, part of a proposed new set of uplink and downlink guidelines, has been referred to a group of ministers, I&B ministry would not be able to take a stand on the issue now in isolation.
“Every country is free to legislate laws to suit it, which is generally the norm worldwide. But to say that just because business models would get upset, laws should not be framed is taking India for granted. Everybody knows India is a huge market for TV companies,” the official stoutly defended I&B ministry’s proposed legislation.
But as a concession to the sentiments of sports broadcasters, most of whom are foreign owned, the government is likely to form a committee, comprising representatives from the industry too, to look into the issue of sporting events that could be considered of national importance.
Some other talking points between sports broadcasters and the government were whether DD could have the option of acquiring live terrestrial rights for all India playing ODIs from private broadcasters that own them. This includes matches played in India or outside.
DD could also have the option to acquire live semi final and final matches of all one day tournaments where India is participating irrespective of whether India makes it to these stages.
Other points that cropped up during a meeting with I&B ministry secretary SK Arora included sharing of ad revenue for events telecast by DD after getting rights from private broadcasters and the agency that would market these events on DD.
Another issue was that of protection of subscription revenue of private broadcasters by encrypting the feed that DD would distribute terrestrially.
But it all depends on the group of ministers, which will decide whether such a law would, if passed, would be made effective on retrospective basis.
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.
