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Ten Sports to continue as the arena for WWE till 2019
MUMBAI: As reported first by indiantelevision.com, Taj TV and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) have reached a new agreement starting January 2015 during which WWE will be available exclusively on the Ten Sports Network for a further five years till 2019. WWE has been broadcasted on Ten Sports since the launch of the channel in 2002.
Established flagship shows: RAW and Smackdown will air on prime time for Indian audiences featuring top superstars. WWE show NXT which brings the best action from the rising WWE superstars and total divas, a WWE reality show will also be aired on the network. Ten Sports will also offer these flagship shows in new shorter versions including a customised one hour RAW programme with a local flavour tailor-made for the Indian audience.
“Monthly specials including Wrestlemania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series etc. have gained extreme popularity among viewers in India with high viewership numbers and increased viewer interaction and engagement across platforms,” says the channel. These specials along with the weekly RAW show will for the first time be carried live in India on the network which will also include the popular Main Event.
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On acquiring the property in this genre, Ten Sports CEO Rajesh Sethi said, “We are very delighted to extend our long standing successful partnership with WWE for the Indian subcontinent. WWE shows are enormously popular in the region and WWE broadcasts are synonymous with the Ten Sports Network having been broadcasted on our channels since 2002. With this new deal till 2019, we promise to offer more hi-quality entertainment and breakthrough programming and engagement opportunities for fans.”
WWE executive vice president international Gerrit Meier said that India remains a strategically important market for WWE. He added, “We are thrilled to continue our long-term partnership with Ten Sports, the region’s leader in sports programming. As the value of the WWE brand and our content continues to increase around the world, the scale and scope of this new agreement illustrates our ability to drive a passionate and engaged audience as well as the potential we have for future growth.”
Ten Sports will also air WWE content in multiple Indian languages for the first time and bring WWE live events back to India in 2015.
Sethi said, “We have the key building blocks in place to consolidate our position as a leading sports network in the sub-continent and we are confident of increasing our market share in times to come. With the retention of WWE rights, we are well on the path to achieve and exceed our planned success.”
The agreement marks another major coup for Ten Sports Network that recently announced major acquisitions including UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League Rights, Commonwealth Games 2018, English Football Rights, German Cup amongst others.
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.
