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Sun plans launch of four Telugu channels
MUMBAI: Sun Network is planning to launch four Telugu language channels, stitching together a bouquet of eight channels by the year-end.
First to take off would be a satellite channel with cable-oriented content, aimed for a June launch. The channel, GCV, will have local events, product launches, news and movies. Cable operators will have a revenue share arrangement with Sun Network. “GCV will help strengthen our relationship with cable operators. As the content will be localised, operators can enjoy a share of the revenues. It will have a two-hour band for kids and the plan is to launch the channel in June,” says a source in Gemini.
Sun Network also plans to launch channels in the business and kids genre. “We will take a decision soon. But the new launches will be targeted specifically at niche audiences and advertisers,” he adds. Sun Network already has four Telugu channels in its stable – Gemini (general entertainment), Teja (movies and film-based programming), Teja News (news channel) and Aditya (music channel).
The move comes in the wake of Sun Network chairman and managing director Kalanithi Maran planning to launch a direct-to-home (DTH) service. Maran will need a wide range of south Indian language channels to lure subscribers to his DTH platform. Besides, he will use this wide bouquet in each of these language markets to aggregate audiences, making it difficult for rival networks to compete with him. “In Andhra Pradesh, there is a market for niche audience segments,” says the source.
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.
