News Headline
Ten Sports betting big on Aussies vs. Proteas
MUMBAI: The Ashes is passé. Get set for some riveting action on the 22 yards strip as Australia takes on not England but another cricketing great, South Africa, in a test series starting tomorrow on Ten Cricket.
Being aired live along with ball-by-ball commentary in English, the tourney has big names associated with it, what with Micromax and Fogg as co-presenting sponsors, Royale Aspira, Clear and Asian Paints as associate sponsors, and spot buys taking place in the course of the series.
Ten Cricket, which is looking at making anything between Rs 10-12 crore in ad revenues, is pushing the series mostly on the digital platform and through promos on its network.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com ahead of the telecast, Ten Sports CEO Rajesh Sethi said: “Globally, Australia and South Africa are the world’s two best test playing nations, so it will be a clash of the titans and is poised to be an interesting proposition for the viewers. We have created eye-catching promos and have been aggressively promoting it through our network.”
Billed as Australia’s challenge to South Africa’s supremacy in test cricket, the series’ promos have been created in-house by a team of 15-odd members.
For the test matches, ad slots have been sold at Rs 10,000 for every ten seconds whereas for the T-20s, they’ve been sold at Rs 20,000 for every ten seconds; revealed Sethi. “We are in a comfortable position with over 95 per cent of our inventories sold for the three T-20s and for the three tests, they’ve sold for more than 80 per cent,” he said before adding, “The content is not that aggressively priced and hence the spot rates are decently priced.”
A media analyst offered his perspective on the channel’s claim saying: “Big sporting events such as these generally sell out 80 per cent of their inventories and make the most of the remainder of the same. Ten Sports on its part has surely garnered a sizeable amount for the series.”
Sethi’s concluding remark was: “Since this series is as big as the Ashes in terms of the level of competition, we would expect to witness good traction among the viewers and we have generated a buzz on the social medium as well.”
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.
