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Ten Sports acquires Capital One Cup and Sky Bet football league rights
MUMBAI: South Asia’s sports broadcaster Ten Sports Network has strengthened its football portfolio with the acquisition of two English football properties in the Capital One Cup and the Sky Bet football league from leading sports media rights agency, MP & Silva.
Both events kick off this weekend and the additions bolster its line up of football content, which includes the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Copa Del Rey and French League.
Ten Sports CEO Rajesh Sethi said “English Football is very well followed in the Indian Subcontinent and by acquiring these properties we will be showcasing all the best English football clubs contest in a more exciting knockout format in the Capital One Cup. With the Sky Bet Football League, we will be able to offer football fans in the Indian subcontinent a different flavor of English Football. We are delighted to work closely with MP & Silva to build our content offering and grow our audience, and we thank the Football League for their support and look forward to invest in and build these competitions.”
The football leagues chief executive Shaun Harvey commented “The Football League are pleased to have secured additional coverage on Ten Sports, one of India’s most prestigious networks, alongside a roster of other blue chip sports properties. India is a market where interest in football has grown exponentially in recent years, and as such this new deal represents a big boost as we continue to expand our international reach, via our fruitful partnership with MP & Silva.”
As part of the deal with MP & Silva, Ten Sports Network has also acquired rights to ‘Brazil World Tour’ featuring friendly matches played by the Brazilian national football team in 2014. Ten Sports Network will showcase Brazil as they aim to re-build their team after its world cup campaign. Fans can look forward to exciting ties against Messi from Argentina and world cup star James Rodriguez of Columbia.
The broadcaster will show these football properties to its 140 million households across the Indian sub-continent. Matches will also be available for live streaming at www.tensports.com.
The Capital One Cup features participation from all Barclays Premier League sides including Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and current champions Manchester City. A total of 92 teams participate in this prestigious cup competition each year in an exciting knockout format with the finals being played at the Wembley stadium in London. Liverpool is the most successful team in this competition with a total of eight titles while Manchester United and Chelsea have four titles each.
The Sky Bet football league has 72 clubs in all across three divisions – The Championship, League one and League two. Each year three teams from the championship get promoted to the Barclays Premier League and three teams from the BPL are relegated to the championship. There is a fierce fan following for clubs in the football league, with many calling the football league the true account of English Football as it has club representation from all parts of England. Ten Sports network will broadcast a total of 90 matches per season from the football League.
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.
