News Headline
Star in multi-year TV series deal with Buena Vista; ‘Desperate Housewives’, ‘Lost’ in kitty
MUMBAI: If you have one, makes sense to have the other as well, and all the rest of the best… After getting Desperate Housewives, arguably the biggest new scripted show on American television in the past five years, the Star group has added the other standout hit of the season Lost, to its roster.
Star and Buena Vista International Television – Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) today announced a multi-year agreement that will bring to Asia’s lead broadcaster most of BVITV’s new network series programmes.
The announcement was made by Steve Macallister, senior vice-president and managing director, BVITV-AP and Ross Crowley, senior vice president, programming, Star.
Desperate Housewives premieres on Star World on 15 July (it will air Fridays at 10 pm).
Lost, however, will be airing on Star Movies. By the looks of things, in positioning Lost on Star Movies, a similar strategy to that used with Steven Spielberg’s mega series Taken is being followed.
The strategy makes sense considering the scale on which the production has been made. It is worth recalling that just the one-hour pilot of Lost cost a whopping $ 12 million. Lost, from JJ Abrams (Alias), is an intense drama on the trials of survivors of a plane crash on a mysterious tropical island.
Among the other BVITV drama series coming to Star World are Grey’s Anatomy and Kevin Hill; and a strong raft of comedies including My Wife and Kids (Damon Wayans), Scrubs (Zachary Braff), 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter (Katey Segal, David Spade), Hope & Faith (Kelly Ripa, Faith Ford), Less Than Perfect (Sarah Rue) and According to Jim (Jim Belushi, Courtney Thorne-Smith).
Commenting on the development, Macallister said, “We are delighted to be expanding our relationship with Star. This latest agreement is significant in that it will enable viewers across Asia to see some of the hottest and most talked about TV in the marketplace today.”
Said Ross Crowley, “This multi-year TV series agreement with Buena Vista International Television accentuates Star’s commitment to bringing quality TV entertainment to viewers across Asia,”
“In the coming years, our viewers will have access to critically-acclaimed and top-rated US TV series including Desperate Housewives and Lost, as part of our stable of must-see programming on Star,” Crowley added.
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.
