News Headline
Kirch goes under; no threat to soccer World Cup telecast
KirchMedia, the core rights business of indebted media media mogul Leo Kirch, filed for insolvency on Monday. After weeks of desperate efforts to stay afloat but weighed in under a mountain of debt, Kirch finally threw in the towel today, paving the way for a takeover by German banks and publishers.
This move also serves a nationalist interest in that it keeps aggressive foreign rivals, specifically Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, Mediaset, controlled by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and the Saudi prince Al-Waleed from grabbing control and thereby getting a handlehold on Europe’s largest media market.
Kirch had amassed debts of $5.71 billion through costly film rights deals and a misjudged foray into pay-TV. Insolvency, similar to Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States, places the company in the hands of an administrator.
Meanwhile, closer home, what is of principal interest to media watchers is what happens to the soccer World Cup telecast since KirchMedia holds the worldwide broadcast rights to both the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.
NO THREAT TO WORLD CUP BROADCAST: According to the information available, Kirch has not let go of the World Cup. He has transferred the rights – valued at 1.9 billion euros – into a holding company based in Switzerland, KirchSport.
While KirchSport is still a fully-owned subsidiary, its location in Switzerland protects it from the administration process, reports say.
SET FRONTRUNNER IN SOCCER WORLD CUP BID AS WELL?
This news should come as a relief to Indian broadcast companies like Sony Entertainment Television, the just launched Ten Sports and ESPN Star Sports, all of who are in the running for scoring as far as the telecast rights of the World cup are concerned.
But as things stand the bidding war seems to be turning into a two-horse between Ten Sports and Sony, with SET being seen as the frontrunner but not by much.
Whoever does get the rights there is definitely a much higher value proposition this time round than the 1998 World Cup in France which garnered pathetic viewership. The main reason for this being that as the matches are being played in Japan and Korea this time round, match timings would make automatically get in much higher viewing than in 1998. No matches at unearthly hours of the morning as was the norm in France will certainly work towards garnering much higher viewership.
As far as the bidding goes, the figures being quoted are in the region of $40 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.
