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Saam TV to launch OTT platform within 6 months
MUMBAI: Sakal Group’s Saam TV recently went from being a full-fledged infotainment channel to a news channel with a focus on hyper-local content.
Talking to Indiantelevision.com, Saam TV executive editor Nilesh Khare said, “In mid 2017, the organisation decided to change the channel to news and information channel and we implemented the new content strategy from 15 January 2018. Our channel is stable on 21 per cent viewership market share for the past five weeks.”
Very soon, it will launch its news app and OTT platform in six months. It will be talking to WhatsOn, Hotstar and some other OTT players for the content. The channel has deals with Dailyhunt and Jio too.
The channel has synergised with the parent company to create its own content which is completely in-house. The presentation, pattern and the graphic are also done by the in-house team. The editorial team of the channel includes 38 reporters in Maharashtra.
Currently, the channel is focused on content and ratings and depending on the response to Saam TV, another channel launch could be on the anvil.
The channel has many national and regional advertisers on board which includes Cadbury, Zee, Honda and Sony. Sony is launching a new Marathi general entertainment channel Sony Marathi on 19 August and the first TV campaign has been launched on Saam TV.
According to the numbers provided by the broadcaster, the channel in its seven months of relaunch claims to have taken pole position with 21.34 per cent of the total viewership in the Marathi market with a target audience above 15 years in the time band of 6 am till 12 am.
Saam TV is followed by ABP Majha with 21.27 per cent share, Zee24 Taas at third position with 19.95 per cent viewership share, according to numbers provided by Saam TV.
The Marathi news market consists of more than half a dozen channels including ABP Majha, News18 Lokmat, Zee24 Taas, TV9 Marathi and Jai Maharashtra to name a few. It is a hotly contested market with several broadcasters fighting tooth and nail for the top position.
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.
