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SPN gets broadcast and digital rights for 2016 International Champions Cup
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), has acquired the broadcast rights to telecast the 2016 edition of the International Champions Cup in India.
The matches this year will be held across North America, Europe, Australia, and China, and will see 17 of the top clubs from across the world participating in the highly anticipated season opening tournament. The International Champions Cup will begin from 22 July and will run through 13 August , 2016. It will be telecast Live and exclusive on Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD channels. The tournament will also be streamed live on the SonyLIV app.
The International Champions Cup 2016 is the first tournament of the 2016-17 football season and will kick-off the 2016-17 club season across the world. The fourth edition will see the return of the winners from the past 3 season – Real Madrid C.F., Manchester United F.C., Paris Saint-Germain, along with other illustrious clubs from across the world.
The 2016 International Champions Cup will feature the most successful and elite clubs from across Spain, Italy, Germany, England, France, Scotland and Australia, along with a host of top players in world football. The 17 clubs participating this year in the International Champions Cup are Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool FC, Chelsea FC, Leicester City FC, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur, Melbourne Victory, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, and Celtic FC.
The acquisition of the broadcast and digital rights of the 2016 International Champions Cup is a strategic approach by the Sports Cluster of SPN towards bringing the best of football to India. After the successful broadcast of the recently concluded UEFA EURO 2016 and Copa America Centenario, the sports cluster of SPN has added the International Champions Cup to its club football portfolio and continues to assert its position as a one-stop destination for football fans in India.
Sony Pictures Networks Distribution and Sports Business president Rajesh Kaul said, “The acquisition of the exclusive broadcast rights of the 2016 edition of the International Champions Cup in India reinforces the Sports Cluster of SPN’s leadership in sports broadcast in India. The 2016 International Champions Cup is significant of a gold-standard of football with Europe’s elite clubs participating in this tournament. After the success of the UEFA EURO 2016, we are looking forward to broadcasting the season-opening tournament of club football, thereby setting the stage for a great season. We are happy to bring the most compelling football content for Indian fans.”
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.
