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SPN India acquires BPL 2016 broadcast & digital rights
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India has acquired the broadcast and digital rights of the fourth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League 2016.
The tournament, which is known as the biggest cricket extravaganza in Bangladesh, will commence today (4 November) and will be telecast on Sony Six and Sony Six HD as well as streamed live on SonyLIV app and website.
The on-air broadcast rights include the telecast of 43 live matches of the tournament in the Indian Sub-continent. Along with live streaming, SonyLiv will also be providing fans with a lot of exclusive Video-On-Demand (VOD) content like highlights, best sixes, best catches, fielding and more.
The Bangladesh Premier League 2016 which is now in its very successful fourth season has grown in its popularity which each edition. The tournament is played in the T20 format and will feature a total of seven teams which include six teams from the previous season and the addition of one new franchise from Khulna and Rajshahi. Apart from Khulna and Rajarshi, the other teams are Comilla Victorians, Barisal Bulls, Rangpur Riders, Dhaka Dynamites and Chittagong Vikings. This season of the tournament will see the likes of some of the biggest names in cricket – Dwayne Bravo, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Dwayne Smith.
The first match of BPL 2016 will be played between Rajshahi Kings and Comilla Victorians at Dhaka. The top four teams from the group stage will qualify for the knockout stage which includes the semi-finals, the eliminator and the final match. The semi-finals of BPL 2016 will take place on 8th December, 2016, while the final will be played on 9th December, 2016, in Dhaka.
Sony Pictures Network distribution and sports business president Rajesh Kaul, “Sony Pictures Networks India has been in the forefront of bringing and popularizing theT20 league format of cricket. Following our previous offerings of Indian Premier League, Caribbean Premier League, South African T20 league & Karnataka Premier League, we are pleased to announce the addition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to our T20 cricket portfolio. The BPL line-up is particularly impressive with International cricketers like Chris Gayle, Thisara Perera, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo and more that our viewers can look forward to.”
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.
