News Headline
Star Sports 1 Telugu to launch on 7 December
MUMBAI: Star Sports is all set to unveil its third regional channel after launching Star Sports 1 Hindi and Star Sports 1 Tamil. The next language market of focus for the company is Telugu and the channel will go on air on 7 December 2018 i.e. Friday, a source close to development informed Indiantelevision.com. As the Vizag leg of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) starts on 7 December at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor stadium.
Star Sports 1 Telugu testing is in process on AsiaSat 7 at 105 degree east.
The formal launch of the channel will be done at a press conference at Taj Krishna, Banjara Hills in Hyderabad on 5 December.
In an interview with Indiantelevision.com, Star Sports CEO Gautam Thakar in September had said that Telugu and Kannada were going to be priority language markets for him.
Telugu feed of the sports event like IPL was aired on Star Maa Movies this season.
Under the new tariff order, Star Sports 1 Telugu and Star Sports 1 Kannada (yet to be launched) have been priced at Rs 19 for the TV consumers.
In September this year, Star Sports also launched Star Sports 3, a multi-lingual channel in place of Channel V.
Towards the end of last year Star India contemplated taking Channel V off air, with Star Sports 1 Kannada as its substitute, with 16 November 2017 having been fixed as the launch date.
However, the broadcaster was unable to get the necessary approvals from Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
Star Sports currently boasts of 14 channels, including Star Sports 1 Telugu, in its bouquet, with nine Standard Definition (SD) and five High Definition (HD) channels.
Awards
Hamdard honours changemakers at Abdul Hameed awards
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.








