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Prasar Bharati garners 12.2 million digital views for Tokyo Olympics 2020
Mumbai: Prasar Bharati on Friday said it garnered 6.6 million views and 2.6 lakh hours of watch time and 5.6 million views and 1.4 lakh hours of watch time for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 via its YouTube channels DD National and PB Sports, respectively.
The public service broadcaster brought the games live to the screens of millions of viewers through its broadcasting and digital platforms. It reached households through TV, radio, and smartphones.
The event was broadcast live every day on DD Sports with supporting coverage on the channels DD National, DD News, and DD India. It was also broadcast on All India Radio (AIR) including all AIR capital stations, FM Rainbow, Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), and other interested AIR stations. The programming was available on their YouTube channels (DD National and PB Sports), DTH, and NewsOnAir mobile app within the territory of India.
“The accessible coverage on DD Sports and All India Radio Sports network was hugely popular among Indians across age-groups, gender, class and regions is evident in the multi-million digital viewership clocked together by multiple YouTube channels and NewsOnAir app of Prasar Bharati,” said the public broadcaster in a statement.
Prasar Bharati hired 14 sign language artists who presented 240 hours of live coverage of the Tokyo Olympics. For listeners, the broadcaster brought together 16 All India Radio commentators to draw a vivid picture of different Olympic events.
Apart from live Olympic sporting events, its coverage included live broadcast of opening and closing ceremonies, exclusive virtual conclave with top Indian sports personalities, biographies and success stories of members of the Indian Olympic contingent, and celebrations of their victories across the country.
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.
