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Kids cluster head Uttam Pal Singh departs from Warner Bros Discovery
MUMBAI: Live frugally has been the mantra in the world of content creation for quite some time now. Almost every genre has been impacted with large advertisers shaving their ad budgets. The kids genre too has been buffeted by the stormy winds of a shrinking ad universe.
Kids broadcasters have in turn cut the per episode production allowance given to producers, apart from reducing the number of fresh content hours. Additionally, OTT platforms which have been going through a tough period have slashed their per unit purchase price for animation content.
Net outcome: studios are either resorting to massive layoffs or shutting down.
“The heady days of two or three years ago and the pre-pandemic era when we were producing 200 minutes of animated content have gone, now we are producing just 30 minutes of content,” says a studio owner. “Look at the number of artists who have been without a job with the shutting down of Technicolor, The Mill and MPC and Jellyfish pictures.”
Broadcasters are tightening their belts on the manpower front as well now in order to stay afloat. The buzz in the market is that Warner Bros Discovery India south Asia kids cluster head Uttam Pal Singh is no longer working with the company. Apparently his role became redundant with Discovery programming head Sai Abhishek being asked to additionally shepherd the kids portfolio which includes Discovery Kids, Cartoon Network and Pogo channels.
Uttam Pal Singh was with Warner Bros Discovery for eight years. He was first hired as head of content of Discovery Kids in 2017, then elevated to head the channel, and finally given charge of the entire kids cluster in 2022.
Indiantelevision.com reached out to Warner Bros Discovery for a comment but no one was willing to come on record.
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.
