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Ten Sports to play it ‘Straight’ during Ind-Pak series
MUMBAI: With India’s hotly anticipated tour of their arch rivals Pakistan a mere ten days away Ten Sports has firmed up its coverage plans.
There is the live cricket of course but the extra toppings as it were will not be having any “babe quotient”. Playing it straight is Ten Sports with a no-frills preview/ half time/ post match show titled Straight Drive.
Not for Ten pleasant attractions (unnecessary distractions the “purist” sort would say) like MAX with Mandira Bedi of the noodle straps fame or ESPN Star Sports’ Shaz and Waz Show.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com Ten Sports India MD Sharmishta Rizhwani said, “As part of our on air coverage during the series, Ten Sports will have a special preview/ half time/ post match show titled Straight Drive. It will be hosted by former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar who has been the face of the channel for the last two years.
Straight Drive will have on its discussion panel weird one-liner king Navjot Singh Sidhu and Pakistani cricket icon Imran Khan. Prominent ex-cricketers like Dean Jones, Ian Chappel, and Waqar Younis will join them from time to time. The commentary team includes Ian Chappel, Robin Jackman, Ian Healy, Dean Jones.
Rizhwani added that to build up excitement the first step was a series of the greatest India Pakistan matches titled India-Pak Unforgettables. These have been airing over the past few months. “Another route was to showcase the legendary players from India & Pakistan under the title Legends India & Pak great performers. January was dedicated to showcase all the legendary Pakistani performers and February was dedicated to India,” said Rizhwani.
Strategic partnerships with news channels Rizhwani added that the broadcaster was in the process of firming up strategic partnerships with various news channels. This will enable them to use limited footage of the matches for their respective news capsules.
The broadcaster has also claimed that it will reach all the 45 million cable homes in the country during this series, with many more seeing the matches through community viewing. The big question though relates to the declared subscriber base. Since Trai has frozen the rates for pay channels as of 26 December 2003 but allowed for “legitimate increases in declared subscriber base”, the Bukhatir broadcaster will no doubt be looking to put the squeeze on cable operators by arguing that the price of Rs 14 is reasonable considering the channel’s content.
Says Rizhwani, “The price has remained unchanged since our launch in 2002. In the last two years, while the subscription rate has remained unchanged, the cricket action offered on the channel has tripled.”
Queried as to whether the fact that Ten was on a virtually one-channel distribution platform (Modi Entertainment Network) was a disadvantage in ramping up numbers Rizhwani replied: “We have always been confident of being a one channel distribution network based on our ability to garner significant amounts of daily viewing comparable to most mass entertainment channels. This is a relatively new phenomenon in sports viewership, which has traditionally been event led in nature. This coupled with our strong line up of live action has resulted in great successes for us on the distribution front.”
Of course for this to happen viewers and cable ops will have to be convinced that there is high quality sport on the channel beyond just this once in lifetime (in terms of excitement generated) series. For this purpose Ten has cut a special promo highlighting the quality action in store for the viewer in the year. These include Australias on going and South Africas upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, England and Bangladeshs tour of West Indies and later in the year Zimbabwes tour of Pakistan.
Hockey continues on the channel in March with the Olympic Qualifiers where India competes with the best in the world to qualify for an elusive Olympic spot. Another event that should bring in the ratings is World Wrestling Entertainment’s Wrestlemania XX. This will air some time in April.
Still, all this is but distractions from the main course, which is the first tour of Pakistan by an Indian team in almost 15 years. As Rizhwani pointed out, the series “really doesn’t need much promotional work.” Granted, but will the distribution ramp ups really be able to match up with the successes on the ad sales front? Team Ten certainly seems to think so.
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.
