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Neo Sports launches 1 October; looks to lock in 8 sponsors to 5-year deals
MUMBAI: Nimbus has announced that its cricket centric TV channel Neo Sports, positioned as “The Home of Indian Cricket on TV” will debut on 1 October with the Challenger Series for NKP Salve Trophy.
Nimbus Communications chairman Harish Thawani tells Indiantelevision.com, “Our internal benchmarks are the soft launch on 1 October, commercial launch on 1 November. 1 January 2007 is when we want to arrive as a globally benchmarked competitive sports network. Before that date comes I can say that we will have eight sponsors locked in on five year contracts. They want it. People approach us and say, ‘When do we sit down and do a five year deal?’
“Between the eight sponsors that we will have locked in, 60 per cent of the channel’s inventory will have been snapped up.
“They do not believe in the artificial division of three and a half or four years. The momentum anyway gets carried to the next period. The eight charter partners will enjoy the best positions and exclusivity on cricket advertising.”
Soon after the comercial launch of Neo Sports, will come a second channel Neo Sports Plus, which will look to converge somewhere between sports and entertainment. And some time in the second half of 207 will come the sports news channel – Neo Sports News.
Speaking about Neo Sports Plus, Thawani says, “We had earlier scheduled to launch it in the second quarter of 2007 which is April – June. But I can confirm that we are likely to bring that forward. We have been able to get ready faster. It is running ahead of schedule. For Neo Sports, the momentum will start building up towards the end of December just ahead of the first major international series.”
Neo Sports has entered into an exclusive distribution tie-up with Star India, which will roll out over 10,000 decoders in the coming weeks to take Neo Sports across the length and breadth of this country. The channel will be available on Cable, DTH and new media platforms.
Speaking about the pricing for the two channels, Thawani says, “We are looking to charge a premium price. Broadcasters so far have not had the guts to charge the price that they feel reflects the true value of their product. What I can confirm is that our pricing will be considerably higher than ESPN Star Sports.
“Neo Sports is premium not just in cricket but also in product feel, the technology investment we are making. We are building up for high definition ready. We are the first company to install complete station automation software for the channel from day one. When you invest and create a premium product you expect premium pricing.”
Neo Sports will focus on various cricket related programming, live coverage of both domestic and international cricket, interviews with top cricketers, analysis and sports entertainment. Neo Sports subscribers, specifically for domestic cricket, would be able to enjoy features like top angle shots and pan vision, speedometer, 3D animation and graphics, spin vision camera for tight bowl vision and spin action, informs an official release.
Neo Sports will broadcast on an average three international cricket series every year featuring India and six domestic tournaments, in addition to which it will broadcast several other international cricket matches. It promises to broadcast close to 150 days a year of live cricket.
Among the key people who have recently joined Neo Sports include Shashi Kalathil as CEO, Hitesh Sabharwal as VP affiliate sales, Ranjith Rajasekharan as VP marketing, Shakeel Memon as creative director and Sonali Rege as GM production.
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.
