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WWE to add slam bang masala to MIPCOM 2003
LONDON: MIPCOM 2003 will see hot wrestling action courtesy World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The international television market scheduled to take place from 10-14 October in Cannes, France will see Vince McMahon’s organisation offer buyers nine hours of fresh programming every week for a total of more than 450 new hours each year.
WWE programming is currently seen in over 125 countries. In India it airs on Ten Sports.
Acknowledging that pay-per-view sales are the fastest growing sector for the company, WWE has just finalised three new pay-per-view deals with Main Event in Australia, Sky TV in New Zealand and Showtime in the Middle East.
All three pay-per-view deals are for the 12 WWE yearly pay-per-views, including WrestleMania XX which the company has already started promoting on-air through snippets that offer a look back at previous editions of the event. The event will be broadcast live on pay-per-view from Madison Square Garden in New York City on 14 March 2004. Then there is WWE SummerSlam, WWE Royal Rumble and WWE Survivor Series. At MIPCOM, WWE will offer Raw and Smackdown content. On display are wrestling superstars like Bill Goldberg, Brock Lesnar, Triple H.
It will also offer its other specials such as WWE Afterburn, WWE Heat. WWE claims to be the number one pay-per-view provider in the world. The company’s events consistently rank among pay-per-view programmes achieving the highest number of buys, with approximately 7.1 million US buys recorded last year. WWE distributes its pay-per-view events to more than 125 countries. Last year its pay-per-view programmes generated revenues of approximately $112.0 million.
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.
