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NBA India announces NBA primetime sundays campaign
MUMBAI: For the second consecutive season, the NBA will schedule a weekly game for live primetime broadcast in India every Sunday evening on SONY TEN 1. This builds on the league’s NBA Primetime Sundays campaign, a weekly live game on Sunday evenings in Africa, Europe and India. The five weekly primetime games airing from March 10 – April 7 in India will feature some of the most popular teams in the league including the L.A. Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors.
In conjunction with the primetime games, the NBA has launched a video/campaign which highlights the differences of watching and enjoying the game in the morning and at primetime. The film features the journey of a fan who usually starts off watching the game alone on his couch with a cup of coffee however during NBA Primetime Sundays, given the evening time band, his experience of watching the game changes where he is seen in his stylish sneakers and apparel, cheering for his teams with friends at a local bar. The video captures the joy of a fan being able to watch NBA Games at primetime along with game highlights from the season.
The NBA and sports cluster of SPN will continue customized, local live NBA wraparound show ‘NBA Primetime Sunday’ before and after the prime time games to bring viewers closer to the game. The program will be hosted by a panel of basketball experts that will provide analysis and insight on all the latest NBA news. More than 120M viewers tuned-in to NBA programming over the course of the 2017-18 NBA season and more than 3.9M viewers tuned-in to the 2018 NBA Sunday games.
The NBA’s partnership with Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) began in the 2012-13 season and includes more than 350 live games in English and Hindi each season.
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.
