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Vivendi Universal revenues up 7 %
MUMBAI: Media company Vivendi Universal reports that revenues for the first half of 2005 eneded 30 June are up by seven per cent.
On a comparable basis first half of 2005 revenues amounted to 9,086 million euros compared to 8,479 million euros for the first half of 2004, an increase of seven per cent.
Universal Music Group’s (UMG) revenues of 2,092 million were up nine per cent on a comparable basis and at constant currency, driven by very strong sales in North America and growth in Germany, the UK, Australia and Latin America. Digital sales represented 4.9 per cent of UMG’s total revenues.
Best sellers came in the form of new releases from 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, The Game and Black Eyed Peas in addition to very strong carry over sales from Gwen Stefani, The Killers and Akon. Regional best sellers included Mylene Farmer,Chimene Badi and Schnappi in Europe, Ivete Sangalo and Juanes in Latin America and Spitz in Asia. In the US, total album unit sales for the industry as measured by SoundScan3 fell 7.6 per cent.
However UMG outperformed the market with a 9.3% increase in sales driving a 5 percentage point increase in market share to 32 per cent.
At the Canal+ Group, half-year revenues remained stable at 1.7 billion euros. The French pay-TV segment delivered a 2-percent revenue gain, thanks to the growth of its portfolio and improved ad revenues. Subscriptions grew from 7.72 million euros as of June 2004 to 7.96 million euros as of June 2005. Canal+ Group’s Q2 revenues fell slightly to 816 million euros, but French pay-TV revenues were up four per cent.
In terms of new subscriptions, this time period was the best first half since 1991, with almost 250,000 new subscriptions to the channel. This highlighted the momentum of Canal+ offers, primarily driven by the success of Canal+ Le Bouquet which represented over 50 per cent of Canal+ new subscriptions in June 2005.
In addition, Canalsat increased its revenues compared to the same period in 2004. In January 2005, its portfolio topped three million subscriptions.
Revenues for Canal+ group’s movie business decreased further due to the focus on the most profitable activities and to high performances during the same period in 2004. At the end of the first half of 2005, major theatrical releases included Oscar winner Million Dollar Baby directed by Clint Eastwood.
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.
