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WWE doing a VoD promotion in the US
MUMBAI: US broadcaster NBC Universal On Demand and World Wrestling Entertainment )WWE) are joining forces for a video on demand (VOD) and pay-per-view (PPV) promotion.
The aim is top help help cable operators in the US attract and upgrade digital and broadband subscribers, while increasing revenue for PPV and the On Demand platform.
Consumers can separately purchase the interactive pay-per-view Cyber Sunday from WWE from 5 November and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift from 26 October offered by NBCU on VOD and PPV. If consumers order both programmes and send in their bill showing proof of purchase by 23 November, 2006, they will receive a WWE and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Limited Edition Car Kit gift pack of automotive paraphernalia while supplies last.
Additionally, from 26 October till 28 February , 2007, consumers can visit www.highspeedstakes.com and enter the “HighSpeedstakes” for a chance to win a prize of a driving school experience with a WWE Superstar. This co-branded microsite will also feature exclusive footage of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and provide a link to vote for Cyber Sunday.
Fans also can participate in WWE’s Cyber Sunday PPV event in November by casting votes online at www.wwe.com to determine, among other things, which Superstars and match stipulations may be involved in the PPV event. For many situations, fans can vote right up until the match starts on PPV, providing almost immediate feedback.
Participating cable and satellite systems will be offered an array of marketing materials in English and Spanish and will have the opportunity to tag all materials with broadband information and promotions. NBCU and WWE will support the initiative with national exposure and a media buy.
WWE Affiliate sales and marketing senior VP Peter Clifford says, “The premise behind Cyber Sunday, which is largely a broadband involved interactive PPV event, and the natural fit between WWE fans and fans of The Fast and the Furious franchise made for a wonderful opportunity to join forces with NBCU. The result is a win/win/win for WWE, NBCU and our affiliates.
“Using our pay-per-view and VOD assets, we are giving our customers a great opportunity to sell more high speed services.”
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.
