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Star ties up with HK’s PCCW for movies
MUMBAI: Hong Kong based communications provider PCCW and Star have announced that Star Chinese Movies and Xing Kong will be available to Now Broadband TV customers from 15 December. The Now Broadband TV platform brings Star’s flagship Chinese channels to Hong Kong television screens for the first time.
Star Chinese Movie features over 100 movies including at least 20 exclusive premieres a month. The movies are commercial-free. To celebrate the launch, the channel will showcase the exclusive premiere of Running On Karma, the Andy Lau blockbuster which was a cinema success a month ago.
The other channel that will be available is general entertainment channel Xing Kong. It offers comedies, talk and game shows, drama series and variety. The Rupert Murdoch broadcaster claims that Xing Kong’s groundbreaking programming and style have catapulted it to become Guangdong Cable’s leading mandarin channel.
An official release informs that each year, Xing Kong features over 700 hours of original programming including Woman In Control which is Chinese television’s first male beauty contest. The Xing Kong Cave is a game show in which contestants test their wits while hanging nine meters in the air, upside down by their ankles.
Star CEO Michelle Guthrie added, “Our goal at Star is to connect with the audiences in each market in which we operate. The launch of two local channels, Star Chinese Movies and Xing Kong, reinforces our commitment to local programming and Hong Kong audiences, and takes the number of our channels in Hong Kong to 11. When Hong Kong viewers sample this exciting programming, they will see it as a great addition to their TV entertainment.”
PCCW’s Consumer Group executive VP Dominic Leung said, “The announcement underscores the commitment we made to our customers when we said we would continue to bring quality and innovative programming to Hong Kong’s TV screens. now Broadband TV has been exceptionally successful, with 150,000 customers signing up within the first two months of launch. It is a clear demonstration of our dedication to continue revolutionising the home entertainment scene in Hong Kong.”
The release adds that what is of great interest is now Broadband TV’s unique ‘a la carte’ pricing model. This allows the flexibility to subscribe only to channels customers wish to receive. There is no basic monthly service fee.
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.
