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Sri Adhikari Brothers re-aligns its TV business
MUMBAI: Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network (SABTNL), a production and distribution company has announced the demerger of its broadcasting and publication units into two separate listed entities.
The plan to re-align the business was discussed in the meeting of the board of directors held on 28 August. With this, the company aims to unlock value in broadcasting allied business, create greater financing flexibility and offer investors an opportunity to benefit from sector-focused business entities.
The company’s broadcasting business is currently spread in a string of firms under TV Vision, a wholly owned subsidiary of SABTNL. These subsidiaries include UBJ Broadcasting, HHP Broadcasting Services and MPCR Broadcasting Services. Under the new plan, these units will be consolidated into TV Vision, which would de-merge from its parent company and become a listed entity itself.
The board has also approved consolidating the publication business of the group under Marvick Entertainment which will also be later changed to a public company, thereby providing further liquidity to the shareholders by adding a listed entity under the group.
The revised group structure would be as under:
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Commenting on the proposal made by the management to the board, SABTNL vice chairman and MD Markand Adhikari said, “In the last few years, the company has strengthened its content business and ventured into broadcasting business by launching niche category TV channels and also forayed into allied business in the publication and event management, with focus on niche segment of the society. Foreseeing the change business would undergo with penetration of internet and government plans to unleash remote connectivity through digital platform, the company believes that it is the right time to venture into new age technology and create a level playing field in its business segments.”
“In order to unlock more value for the shareholders, the management had proposed to independently govern and build these businesses, while retaining the character as a pure content and IP and production company and focusing on creation and development of infrastructure to strengthen the traditional business and venture into new age media and entertainment field,” he added.
The restructuring process will result in creation of two more listed entities in which, the existing shareholders would become shareholders in the same proportion to their holding as in SABTNL.
“The shareholders would receive one fully paid-up equity share of Rs 10 each of the broadcasting business and three fully paid-up equity shares of publication business as well, for every fully paid-up equity share of Rs 10 each held in the company and 10,000 redeemable preference shares of Rs 10 each of the TV Vision to the preference shareholders of the company on a proportionate basis,” said a statement released by the company.
Additionally, the company would also issue 2,381,068 redeemable preference shares of Rs 10 each fully paid-up of the company to the equity shareholders of SAB Assets (which houses the publication unit) on a proportionate basis pursuant to the transfer of the publication business of SAB Assets, based on the net worth of SAB Assets as on 31 March 2014 and supported by a report from an independent value.
Founded in 1995, SABTNL has been producing multi-lingual and multi-genre content. It already has an established regional presence in various Indian languages including Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.
Shares of the company last traded at Rs 120.75 each, up 1.30 per cent on BSE on Thursday. The market was closed on Friday.
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.
