News Headline
Prasar Bharati calls for fresh bids on DD Metro, Nine Gold out in the cold
After months of wrangling, Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) yesterday set the wheels in motion throwing open bidding for all time slots on its Doordarshan Metro channel. HFCL Nine Broadcasting currently holds the rights for the 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm slot. The 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm slot expires in September, while the 10:00 to 11:00 pm one completes its run in October.
Obviously, the mandarins in Prasar Bharati have decided that enough was enough with Channel Nine and that they would not give in to pressure from its manager that it had not lived up to commitments of increasing DD penetration and reach in urban cable and satellite homes, re-engineering its transmitter setup and hence extending the contract to a longer term – 10 years at best and 18 months at the worst.
The current bidding process is slated to commence from tomorrow and the tender documents will be available online from the DD site and from its stations from 30 June.
DD has set the following floor prices for the various time slots it is throwing open to wannabe bidders:
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If at first you don’t succeed…you try again… DD style
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No
|
Time slot
|
Floor price
(Rs million) |
Free commercial time
(in seconds) |
| 1 | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm | 225 | 600 |
| 2 | 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm | 325 | 600 |
| 3 | 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm | 425 | 600 |
| 4 | 10:00 pm – 11:00 pm | 175 | 600 |
| 5 | 11:00 pm – 12:00 am | no floor price | 600 |
| 6 | 00:00 am – 00:30 am | no floor price | 300 |
DD has said that bidders should be open to an annual increase of 10 per cent for any bids they make. Additionally bidders can bid for individual hourly slots or for the entire band of 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
The pre-qualification bids will be opened on 18 June while the final bids will be opened on 19 June. Clearly, executives in television channels have a busy month ahead of them.
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.
