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Intelsat, AMNS take Russia’s ‘Channel One’ to US
LONDON: Ascent Media Network Services (AMNS), a division of Ascent Media Group, and Intelsat, a global communications leader, jointly announced on Tuesday that they have teamed up to deliver Channel One Russia Worldwide Network from Moscow into the United States.
The channel was formerly known as Public Russian Television, or ORT and was claimed to be viewed by approximately 200 million local people. The Russian government owns 51 per cent of the broadcaster. Channel One will now be distributed to home cable viewers across the US via International Channel Networks (ICN) based in Centennial, Colorado.
Till now, AMNS provides international downlink, programme integration, time delay and server play-out for Channel One from its London facility. Henceforth, with AMNS’ transatlantic fibre, the signal will be transmitted to the company’s switching centre in New York where it will be routed to Intelsat’s GlobalConnex infrastructure for delivery, an Intelsat company release stated.
Content will be carried out of Moscow over the Intelsat satellite at 342?E, downlinked at Intelsat’s teleport in Germany, and transported via leased fibre facilities to Denver. At that point, ICN will re-package the content and oversee its distribution and marketing among US cable systems.
ICN reaches 13 million households in the US, hosting 24 hours of programming in 20 languages on its main channel and 14 premium channels.
The release quoted AMNS’ senior vice president of global operations, Frank Luperella as saying, “Ascent Media’s full service capabilities and strong vendor relationships make us the ideal solution for ORT. In bringing Russian news and entertainment content to the US market, we’re pleased to have the ability to collaborate with a company like Intelsat. The vast extent and flexibility of the Intelsat infrastructure allowed for the quick and easy execution of this project.”
Intelsat’s president of media and entertainment – business unit, Jon Romm, was also quoted saying, “Companies wishing to distribute their content locally, regionally or internationally will find that Intelsat has made distribution quick, easy and very accessible. A solution like this one, with smart utilization of the right facilities to provide a more affordable solution, really demonstrates the breadth and capability of both Intelsat’s and Ascent Media’s networks.”
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.
