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NBC emerges as front runner in Vivendi US showbiz deal
MUMBAI: General Electric’s NBC has emerged as a front runner in the acquisition of the entertainment assets of Vivendi Universal in the US. The other major contenders for the show business auction include from NBC, Liberty Media Corporation and an Edgar Bronfman promoted group.
However, a Reuters report adds that the sale decision will face a road block from the pending court decision (New York court) involving the severance package of its former chief executive Jean-Marie Messier.
Vivendi, a French media and utilities conglomerate, has been trying to sell assets to pay off debt. The entertainment assets being auctioned off include the Universal movie and TV studios, the Sci-Fi cable channel and the Universal theme parks. Media reports indicate that Vivendi has sought a $14 billion minimum.
Former CEO Messier was ousted in July 2002 after his attempts to turn the former French water utility into a global entertainment empire collapsed, leaving it with crippling debts. A Reuters report says that Messier has demanded a severance package of $22.7 million which is pending in a US court. Current Vivendi Universal chairman Jean-Rene Fourtou has opposed the package demanded by Messier. There is a demand to get this approved by the shareholders.
Vivendi is expected to make a decision on Tuesday, 26 August 2003. On the Paris Stock Exchange, the scrip rose by 1.39 per cent and is currently at Euro 15.31; on the New York Stock Exchange, it is at $16.78 – down 0.06 per cent.
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.
