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Sony elated as DD agrees to stop beaming off PAS-10
MUMBAI: DD Sports will stop beaming the Indo-Pakistan series via PAS-10 satellite from midnight, following strong protests from Sony.
As the footprint of PAS-10 spreads across Europe and the Middle East, Sony argued that the DD Sports spillover as an unencrypted free to air channel would affect its commercial interests as it had paid $11.5 to acquire the international telecast rights.
Instead, DD Sports will beam from Insat 2E so that the coverage of the cricket matches do not reach markets outside India. “We made a request to the BCCI.. DD Sports has agreed not to beam from PAS-10,” says SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta.
Sony had sold to Ten Sports the satellite telecast rights for the Middle East and Pakistan territories for $2.5 million.
Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma admitted that cable operators had been informed to receive signals from Insat 2E. “BCCI made a request yesterday that we remove DD Sports from the PAS-10 satellite as the footprint of the channel spreads across 146 countries. We have agreed to do this but it will take time for the cable operators to react,” he says.
Cable operators admitted that they have been intimated by DD Sports to make the necessary switchover. “We have been told that the channel would be available on Insat and not PAS-10,” says a source in Hathway Cable & Datacom.
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.
