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News Corp forms Internet unit
MUMBAI: US media conglomerate News Corp has announced the formation of an online unit Fox Interactive Media (Fim).
The new unit will leverage the strength of Fox’s entertainment, news and sports brands across the Internet to offer a richer online experience to its millions of users.
It may be recalled that it was just three months ago that News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch had called for a focussed look at how to leverage online online distribution, more so in the wake of the steady increases in advertising dollars that the Intenet was pulling in.
The company states that veteran media and interactive executive Ross Levinsohn will become Fim president. Fim will be based in Los Angeles. Additionally, veteran Fox News executive Bert Solivan will join as executive VP.
Fim will manage the growing stable of interactive assets from all Fox divisions – including the highly trafficked foxsports.com, foxnews.com and fox.com, as well as coordinate the owned-and-operated television station web properties. FIM will immediately focus on creating a robust broadband experience leveraging the vast current and archive video assets, while also building an integrated hub of dynamic content with multiple points of entry, seamless navigation and the ability to customize and personalize.
It will provide the ultimate home base for users’ news, information, entertainment and community needs. The new division will also pursue strategic investments which will aim at further enhancing the Internet experience for Fox users.
Fim executives will work closely with Fox’s wireless entertainment and digital media groups as well as with management of all Fox units to ensure that each operating division continues to shape its unique voice on the web.
Murdoch said, “We are launching this new unit after months of internal study and discussion among News Corp. senior management from all key divisions. Across the board, we believe no other media company has been as successful at creating distinctive content and finding ways to distribute it over every conceivable platform to mass audiences around the world. We’re confident this success will translate to the Internet. We believe that the time is right for the launch of Fim and we’re committed to devoting the resources to make it one of the premier companies on the web.”
Levinsohn said, “I am thrilled with the opportunity to lead this exciting new venture. Rupert Murdoch and Peter Chernin are committed to making Fim a key player in the new media landscape and our operating divisions are excited to have a stake in this new business. We have all the building blocks for success and we’re convinced that by combining our internet assets under one banner and making a few shrewd investments, we can quickly become one of the most exciting and innovative destinations on the web.”
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.
