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LiveTV brings in-flight satellite TV to Australia
MUMBAI: Frequent flyer “saas-bahu” saga addicts would just love this service on our domestic aircraft carriers. LiveTV, a wholly owned subsidiary of JetBlue Airways Corporation, has entered into an agreement with Virgin Blue Airlines to provide in-flight satellite television on the Australian low-fare carrier’s fleet.
This new service will be broadcast live via satellite to the aircraft and displayed on individual seatback screens. This is the first time in-flight satellite TV has ever been available in Australia, following JetBlue’s US debut of the system in 2000, informs a company release.
Under the terms of the agreement, LiveTV will provide satellite receiving and distribution system equipment as well as maintenance services, enabling Virgin Blue to provide its customers the choice of 24 Foxtel and Austar channels of satellite programming at every seatback.
Virgin Blue will purchase the in-flight entertainment system and maintenance will be provided by LiveTV. This order is to equip 51 firm Boeing 737 aircraft with the option to install the system on future aircraft deliveries. Installation of the equipment on Virgin Blue’s first aircraft is scheduled for the third quarter of 2005, the release adds.
“We’re delighted to add Virgin Blue to our customer base of low-fare airlines,” says LiveTV VP Glenn Latta. “I’d like to commend our crewmembers on once again being the supplier of choice when it comes to in-flight entertainment on low-fare carriers. Our agreement with Virgin Blue is a tribute to their hard work and dedication in providing the At Home in the Air (TM) experience for all of LiveTV’s customers.”
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.
