News Headline
Zee to delist from Ahmedabad, Delhi exchanges
NEW DELHI: The board of directors of the Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms Ltd (ZTL), at its meeting held today, has approved the proposal to commence broadcasting of Zee TV and Zee Cinema channels from India. The company has already obtained permission of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the same.
The board also approved the de-listing of the company’s shares from Ahmedabad and Delhi Stock Exchange.
“Shifting of broadcast of these channels would help garner advertising revenue from non-exporting advertisers, cost saving on account of foreign exchange remittances and help bring about operational efficiency in the wake of introduction of conditional access system (CAS) and direct-to-home (DTH) technologies for distribution,” an official statement, quoting Rajiv Garg, CEO, corporate strategy and finance, Essel Group, said here today.
ZTL’s total revenues and profitability is expected to show a substantial increase on standalone basis. The major upside would, off course, remain the incremental advertisement revenue on account of company’s ability to sell airtime to non-exporting entities also.
The company has finalized arrangements with Essel Shyam Communication Limited, with its facilities on the outskirts of Delhi at NOIDA, to playout and uplink these channels. These channels would continue to be broadcast using the same transponder on Asiasat 3 satellite.
According to Garg, “With this re-organisation, the company would offer leading Hindi Zee channels to non-exporting Indian businesses for the first time in Indian broadcasting history presenting them with an excellent option to maximize their marketing strategy.”
55% DIVIDEND APPROVED
In its Annual General Meeting held immediately after the board meeting, payment of dividend at the rate of 55 per cent was approved for the year 2002-03.
The general body also approved the annual accounts and the re-appointment of N C Jain and B K Syngal to the board of directors and also the appointment of S P Talwar as an independent director. Talwar has had a distinguished career and retired as a deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
The board also approved the de-listing of the company’s shares from Ahmedabad and Delhi Stock Exchange.
Salient features of the audited results of the company are as follows: the company has reported a consolidated turnover growth of 12.2 per cent to Rs. 12,079 million and a growth in operating profit of 23.5 per cent; net profit for the year, excluding exceptional items, recorded a 33.5 per cent growth to Rs. 2,599 million; overall subscription revenues turned in an excellent performance globally with 54.5 per cent growth to Rs. 4,849 million; domestic pay revenues continued to build on the momentum gathered last year, with a strong increase of 81.4 per cent over last year. During the year, subscription revenues contributed 40 per cent to the total revenues, up from 29 per cent last year.
International businesses continued to grow leading to 41.9 per cent growth in international revenues. During the financial year 2003, 25.2 per cent of revenues came from markets other than India. Cash flows helped reduce term borrowings by Rs. 810 million and the process has continued during FY 2004, resulting in further reduction of debt. Focused cost control has enabled to improve operating margins substantially from 28.3 per cent in FY2002 to 31.1 per cent in FY2003.
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.
