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Murdoch scans a possible JV with CCTV
MUMBAI: Four years after his media empire News Corp crossed the great wall of China, media moghul Rupert Murdoch will launch a joint venture with China pubcaster China Central Television (CCTV).
A report in the Telegraph indicates that this will be the national state broadcaster’s first foreign joint production venture. Last year the Chinese government had allowed overseas players into the market under certain stipulations.
Fox has a 50 per cent stake in National Geographic Channel (NGC). NGC supplies CCTV with documentaries. Now the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong has reported that NGC and CCTV will start a fully fledged joint venture company. It will produce up to 300 hours of content annually.
Under the rules, which China agreed to implement under accession terms to the World Trade Organisation, the foreign partner can hold up to 49 per cent stake of the new firm. The state must still be a majority stockholder in all media and publishing companies.
In an official statement NGC has confirmed that discussions are going on which aim at creating a long-term partnership with CCTV. However NGC declined to comment on the structure of the potential partnership or the timetable for formalising it.
The statement says, “Our documentaries feature the remarkable works and expeditions of scientists, explorers and adventurers, and cover genres such as science, mystery, wildlife, people and cultures, travel and adventure, and natural phenomena.”
The Telegraph report points out that Murdoch’s strategic goal has always been television. He has a stake in Phoenix, a Hong Kong broadcaster which is watched via satellite by more than 40 million people in China, thanks to lax enforcement of rules under which it should be restricted to hotels and foreigners’ residences. Star also has restricted viewing rights in China.
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.
