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Prasar Bharati mulls making DD Sports FTA
MUMBAI: The Prasar Bharati appears to have decided to let DD Sports go free.
CEO KS Sarma told the press on Monday while in Chennai that the public broadcaster is talking to Modi Entertainment Network with which it has an agreement for distribution, to change the pay channel into a free one, as the channel is currently drawing in revenues hardly touching Rs 200 million.
Conceived to promote local sports, DD Sports has about 27 days of cricket allotted by the Board of Cricket Control in India. That apart, the channel has only a few more fortnights of cricket whenever there is a World Cup or ICC tournament. Sarma, on a visit to meet cable operators, reportedly told newspersons that Prasar Bharati has entered into a joint venture agreement with the Global Cricket Corporation (GCC) for terrestrial broadcast rights for the Champions Trophy and World Cup 2003. The agreement stipulates that Prasar Bharati would receive a payment of Rs 10 million per match; the revenue earned from the match would be shared on 80:20 basis in favour of GCC.
As part of a plan to bolster its finances, Prasar Bharti was also looking at possibilities of exploiting prime properties on which its stations were located in 272 cities and towns across the country, Sarma said.
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.
