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Siti gets additional clearances for HITS plan
BANGALORE: Nagging doubts over Siti Cable’s ambitious headend in the sky (HITS) project — through which it is seeking to implement the conditional access in the four metros — got cleared with the government giving some additional clearances that were necessary.
According to the Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms’ additional vice-chairman Jawahar Goel, “We have got permission from the Indian government to `turn around’ pay and free to air channels from the country.”
Pointing out that this fresh nod from the government is over and above the licence for uplink that was obtained by another Chandra company, ASC Enterprises, sometime back, Goel told indiantelevision.com that the permission is for turning around 46 FTA and 36 pay channels. The formal letter was received by SitiCable, the cable subsidiary of Zee Telefilms, earlier this week.
The fresh permission was necessary as some doubts were raised whether Siti could implement the HITS project as it would mean turning round or uplinking channels from India, news and otherwise, which may attract the provisions of other media guidelines set by the Indian government.
This was also one of the reasons that had been cited by other broadcsters like Star India for being non-comittal on a Zee-ASC Enterprises-promoted HITS platform.
Sometime back Star India CEO Peter Mukrjea had told indiantelevision.com that he cannot commit Star channels being part of Zee’s HITS platform as there were some technical and legal issues involved regarding turning around of channels in an encrypted form from a central facility.
The HITS project involves downlinking satellite channels at a central facility and after their encryption are uplinked again to a satellite that can be accessed by cable operators and MSOs for further redistribution to their susbcribers.
The project’s touted USP: that it will reduce the financial investment that will be needed to be made by cable ops to upgrade their headends to facilitate conditioanal access or addressability.
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.
