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Viacom18 Sports ropes in Bollywood star Ranveer Singh for NBA campaign
Mumbai: Viacom18 Sports, India’s newest premier sports network, has launched its 2022–23 NBA season ad campaign, “Morning Time Is Baller Time,” headlined by Bollywood star Ranveer Singh. Streaming now across all Viacom18 Sports’ digital and social media platforms, the film draws energy and excitement from the actor’s love for the NBA and celebrates the return of the basketball league live on Sports18 (SD & HD), MTV (SD & HD), and JioCinema.
The film opens with Singh blissfully calling it a night with a rooster in tow. As the sun rays hit Singh’s face, the rooster cackles aloud, alarms go off, and the super fan in Singh swiftly slips into his baller threads and sneakers to catch the high-octane NBA action, signalling “Morning Time Is Baller Time.”
“As an avid basketball fan and the NBA Brand Ambassador for India, it’s a pleasure to be a part of the new campaign for the 2022–23 NBA season. With the season having tipped off in high gear, the film “Morning Time Is Baller Time” aptly brings to life the excitement and energy surrounding the NBA,” said Singh.
“Morning Time Is Baller Time” reinforces our proposition that mornings are best enjoyed watching the incredible action from the NBA on Sports18 1 and JioCinema, and who better than the effervescent resident NBA fan Ranveer Singh to reiterate this and celebrate the start of what promises to be yet another exciting season. We are focused on expanding and elevating our NBA offerings this season and taking them to a broader audience,” said Viacom18 Sports head of content Siddharth Sharma.
“Viacom18 Sports provides NBA fans in India with unparalleled access to follow and watch their favourite teams and players in Hindi and English. We look forward to continuing our collaboration as we engage both new and existing fans throughout the country and bring them closer to the game by offering a wide range of NBA programming to sports, lifestyle, and youth audiences,” said NBA India business head for global content and media distribution Sunny Malik.
In its endeavour to engage viewers through the season, Viacom18 Sports’ NBA offerings include a mix of live and non-live programming across all their platforms, including more games after 7 a.m. Coverage features live games each week and the league’s marquee events, including the NBA All-Star Game, the NBA Play-In Tournament, the NBA Playoffs, and the NBA Finals. The 2022–23 season tipped off on Sports18 1, MTV SD & HD, and JioCinema on 19 October, with the defending champion Golden State Warriors defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 123-109.
JioCinema live-streams one game every morning in English and Hindi, and Sports18 1 and MTV will continue to broadcast select live games every week through the season in English and Hindi, respectively. The JioCinema app is available to download for all telecom service subscribers and across devices on iOS and Android, with access to Viacom18 Sports’ portfolio of live and non-live programming.
Viewers can continue to watch their preferred sports by downloading JioCinema (iOS & Android). For the latest updates, news, scores, and videos, fans can follow Sports18 on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Fans in India can also follow the NBA on Facebook (Facebook.com/NBAIndia), Instagram (@NBAIndia) and Twitter (@NBAIndia) and download the NBA App for the latest news, updates, scores, stats, schedules, and videos.
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.
