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SCP to offer eBay on television in US
MUMBAI: SCP Private Equity Partners, a private equity firm that invests in companies in high growth industries, announced that its portfolio company, BIAP Systems, Inc., has brought interactivity to television through partnerships with Time Warner Cable and eBay.
Through the use of BIAP’s “intelligent agent software technology,” cable subscribers in the US will now have the ability to access eBay directly from their home TVs.
BIAP’s “eBay on TV” allows registered eBay users to check the status of their accounts and submit bids using their existing set-top boxes and remotes. Alerts will be posted on subscribers’ screens if they have been outbid or have won an auction – all in real time and from any channel. The service comes at no additional cost to cable subscribers and is accessible through a simple on-screen sign in process.
eBay on TV has been pilot tested by Time Warner in Austin, Texas with great success and is now rolling it out to all digital cable subscribers in Austin. BIAP is also in discussions with other major cable companies who are interested in bringing interactivity to their customers.
“The first television broadcast was in 1925 – 80 years ago. TV has been a very powerful medium, but the basic TV experience has not evolved significantly since its introduction and still remains essentially passive and one-dimensional. Today, BIAP has changed the television arena permanently by bringing the social, economic, and intellectual dimensions of the Internet to TV for the first time,” said SCP managing general partner and BIAP chairman Winston J Churchill.
The software used to bring eBay to TV was developed by BIAP to run on “edge” devices such as cable set-top boxes that have limited computing power. It employs artificial intelligent agents to continuously retrieve, aggregate, and display content from any digital source. As a result of this distributed architecture, the system can be easily scaled to a virtually unlimited number of users with no upgrade to network servers at the cable headend. The software can also be automatically downloaded through the cable network without the need for any truck rolls, thereby facilitating rapid, low-cost deployment. Only minimal additional network traffic is created by its operation.
“BIAP’s technology is truly revolutionary, not just because of the eBay capability, but because there are so many other potential interactive applications where it can be applied. I’ve been working with BIAP since its inception, helping them refine their technology and their business model. This is a company ahead of the curve that has the staying power to remain there,” said SCP venture partner Bobby Yablunsky.
BIAP was founded in 1998, by M. Ellen Dudar, Dr. Louis Slothouber, Charles Shotton and SCP Private Equity Partners. Together, they developed revolutionary ways to access information using artificial intelligence.
The first item purchased using eBay on TV interactive television was a pair of cowboy boots!
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.
