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Sony launches new regional channel ahead of UEFA, Copa America
KOLKATA: Football fans in India can gear up for the biggest football festival with two of the most prestigious international football tournaments, UEFA EURO 2020 and Copa América 2021 on the Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN). The network has announced a range of programming initiatives for the tournaments to bring the global marquee events closer to viewers in India.
SPSN will telecast UEFA Euro 2020 in six languages to reach out to a wider audience across India: English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. The tournament will go live on Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 3, Sony Six and Sony Ten 4 channels and also live streamed on SonyLIV.
Football fans can also enjoy Copa América 2021 on the network which will feature some of the biggest names like Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr, Dani Alves, Gabriel Jesus, Alisson Becker, James Rodriguez, Roberto Firmino, Paolo Dybala, Sergio Aguero and more. Copa América will be telecast live in five languages: English, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.
New regional channel:
Notably, UEFA EURO 2020 and Copa América 2021 will also be telecast on SPSN’s new regional language sports channel, Sony Ten 4, which will be available in Tamil and Telugu languages across the southern region of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The channel launch is in-line with SPSN’s commitment to foster a multi-sports culture in the country while providing fans with an unparalleled viewing experience of their favourite sports, the broadcaster stated. SPSN has roped in actor Rana Daggubati as the face of the channel and he will also be promoting WWE’s programming in Tamil and Telugu.
Programming initiatives:
UEFA EURO 2020 will also bring back the much-loved LIVE Studio Show Football Extraaa hosted by familiar faces, Manas Singh and Arpit Sharma. The line-up of distinguished panellists to provide opinions, insights and analyses include International (former) footballers Louis Saha, Luis Garcia, Don Hutchison, David James, Terry Phelan, Mark Seagraves, Ashley Westwood and Jofre Mateu. The team of Indian football specialists on the show will include Indian legend, Bhaichung Bhutia and current superstars such as Indian Captain Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sandesh Jhingan and Robin Singh. SPSN will also have Andy Mitten, Adriano Del Monte and Eisha Megan Acton, reporting live from the ground across match venues and taking the viewers closer to the action.
The tournaments that are being covered in multiple languages making it more accessible for viewers across India will feature a gamut of the most prominent football commentators in the country. The Hindi feed will be presented by Manish Batavia, Atish Thukral, Raman Bhanot and Sunil Taneja while the Bengali feed will have Pradip Roy, Pallab Basu Mallik, Debjit Ghosh and Kaushik Varun as part of the commentator panel.
The Tamil feed will feature Pradeep Krishna M., Sudhir Sreenivasan, Abhishek Raaja and Nallappan Mohanraj while the Telugu feed will be showcased by Sandeep Kumar B., Sudheer Mahavadi, Joseph Antony and Norman Swaroop Isaac. Fans can also watch the Malayalam feed presented by Shaiju Damodaran, Jopaul Anchery, Eldho Paul Puthussery and Bineesh Kiran.
“Sony Pictures Sports Network is committed to presenting our viewers with the best sporting action in the world and UEFA EURO 2020 is at the forefront of it. UEFA EURO 2020 is considered one of the toughest tournaments in the world because of the high quality of the participating teams and players. Our exhaustive coverage for the tournament to serve our viewers in six different languages and a comprehensive English language studio featuring prominent names like Louis Saha, Luis Garcia, Don Hutchison, David James, Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri,” Sony Pictures Networks India sports business chief revenue officer, distribution and head Rajesh Kaul said.
“We will also be telecasting Copa América 2021 which will feature, among others, Brazil and Argentina, two of the most popular international football teams in the country. We are presenting a football festival for sports fans in India with both UEFA 2020 and Copa América. We are presenting over 75 matches across 30 days and viewers can expect six to ten hours of daily live coverage of all the biggest and most popular international football teams competing in these two events,” Kaul added.
The 16th edition of UEFA EURO 2020 will have 51 games for fans to enjoy over a period of 30 days. Rome’s Stadio Olimpico will host the opening match on 12 June while the finals on 12 July will be held inside the iconic Wembley Stadium in London. The opening round of matches from 12 June to 23 June will feature some thrilling encounters such as England vs Croatia, France vs Germany, Portugal vs Germany, Portugal vs France and many more.
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.
