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Mobile content distributor GoTV among Fortune’s 25 breakout companies for 2005
MUMBAI: California based mobile content distributor Go TV Networks is among Fortune’s list of 25 breakout companies for the year.
Did you miss Desperate Housewives on Sunday? Don’t worry. Soon GoTV, a creator and distributor of mobile content, will make it possible for a fan to switch on his/her cellphone and watch a three-minute recap of the show.
GoTV, a 46-person firm near Hollywood, now distributes movie reviews, sports scores, and headline news to cellphones. Rather than stream live TV to the devices like some of its rivals, GoTV tailors material to fit the screens and attention spans of a mobile audience. Among the creations of its Emmy-winning producers are PurePhat, a hip-hop channel; SportsTracker, a source for real-time scores.
In July it will release BoostTV. This is a MTV-like video programme for teens. However customers should not expect images on the little screen to be identical to those on prime time.
Another company that features in the list is Independent Online Distribution Alliance (IODA). It works in the area of online music distribution. Two years ago it seemed as if everybody in the online music world was lamenting that rock stars like Madonna wouldn’t let their songs be sold on the Internet. Kevin Arnold was an exception. A self-described “music technology geek” and founder of San Francisco’s Noise Pop festival, he was convinced that there is a market in cyberspace for songs by obscure artists like the Plastic Constellations and Drist. In 2003 he launched IODA.
Today it is a fast-growing company, distributing music from 500 independent record labels to digital retailers like iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, MSN Music, and Starbucks’ Hear Music. IODA has yet to turn a profit, but Arnold expects $3 million in revenue this year—a tenfold increase over 2004.
Fortune states that it is easy now to see why IODA is thriving. Unlike a traditional record store, digital music services essentially have infinite shelf space, and their customers love to explore the weirder corners of their libraries. Rhapsody and Napster, which offer subscription services, say that less than 50 per cent of the songs that customers groove to each month come from major-label catalogues.
When a big-name artist like Eminem puts out a record, one of its cuts will quickly become the services’ most downloaded song, but that will still account for just a tiny fraction of what subscribers are actually listening to.
California based Odeo which specialises in podcasting is also mentioned. The service works like this: When Odeo goes live this month, podcasters will log on and employ Odeo-crafted, simple-to-use tools to record anything from found sounds to near-professional shows. Creators assign “tags” to signal their shows’ topics. Listeners then subscribe by tag or by channel and tune in or have the show automatically downloaded to their PCs. Odeo plans to sell advertising and possibly audio tools and content.
The idea of a one-stop shop for podcasting isn’t new. Where Odeo appears to be the pioneer is in making podcasting—finding, creating, and listening—truly simple. The same business model helped co-founder Evan Williams, 33, succeed with his last startup, Pyra, which created Blogger.com. Google purchased Pyra in 2003 for an undisclosed amount. In 2004, Williams split and teamed with Glass to start Odeo.
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.
