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Spike TV joins NBC in the sports reality ring
MUMBAI: Sports is fast becoming popular in the reality genre in the US despite the fact that Fox’s boxing based reality programme The Next Great Champ failed to bring in the ratings last year. NBC will debut the boxing show The Contender on 21 February. The broadcaster is basically hoping to compete with Fox’s American Idol.
Now Viacom’s network dedicated to men Spike TV will launch a reality show dedicated to ultimate fighting.
Spike TV’s show The Ultimate Fighter will assemble 16 men from across the US to determine who has what it takes to earn a contract with the organisation Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
The new original series, co-hosted by recording artist and model Willa Ford, premieres on 17 January and will follow WWE Raw.. The competitors in The Ultimate Fighter are not voted off the island as in Survivor, fired by a CEO as in The Apprentice , or eliminated in a rose ceremony. Instead, the ones sent home are those who lose in the Octagon or sent packing by their coach because they let the team down.
UFC president Dana White said, “Sylvester Stallone may be looking for a Contender, but the UFC is looking for a Champion. The Ultimate Fighter goes behind the scenes to see what it takes when 16 hard-core guys from around the country live, train, and fight together — all with one ultimate goal.”
Spike TV senior VP sports and specials Jim Burns said, “Guys have never seen a reality show like this before. The curtain will be lifted on the intense, high action world of the UFC. The 16 competitors are all accomplished athletes, disciplined in wide range of mixed martial arts that include wrestling, boxing, judo, Jiu-Jitsu, karate and kickboxing.
“For seven weeks, the competitors were under the strict supervision of two of the most successful and famous UFC fighters and trainers — UFC light heavyweight champion, Randy Couture and UFC light heavyweight number one contender, Chuck Liddell.”
Throughout the show, the competitors will also compete in various challenges. These team and individual challenges are designed to push the fighters to the edge of their physical and mental capabilities that revolve around old school training techniques, physical stamina, and mental strategy.
As had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com NBC’s show The Contender will see 16 boxers competing for the chance to win a million dollars and go professional, In India episodes will air on AXN less than 24 hours after their initial broadcast in the US.
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.
