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Zee to launch localised channel in South East Asia
MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms is in talks with a media company to produce a localised TV channel for the South East Asian region.
“We are in discussions for a partnership deal with a South East Asian company to put out a customised channel in the region,” says a source. He, however, did not disclose the name of the company.
According to the talks, Zee will provide the customised content for the channel while the partner will be responsible for dubbing and distributing the channel on the direct-to-home (DTH) platform across the region. There will be a revenue share arrangement between the two companies.
“Zee will be responsible for the customisation of this feed. It is different from the content syndication business that Zee does across the globe and will be a significant development if the deal sails through,” the source says.
The customised channel for the South East Asian region is planned for a launch this October. It will be in multiple languages across the region and be distributed on the DTH platform, he adds.
Zee has a strong overseas presence with its Hindi and regional language channels, particularly in the UK and US markets. The company’s international business includes a separate South Asian feed which was launched a year back. But Zee does not have a locally produced channel in the international market.
Indian companies are exploring options of developing partnerships overseas. Subhas Ghai-promoted Mukta Arts has completed a turnkey project for Dubai-based city-centric fashion and lifestyle content channel INTV. For setting up the channel operations, the company was paid an amount and given 10-15 per cent equity in Arab Venture Corporation, the holding company of INTV.
Kalanithi Maran’s Sun Network has done a different deal with Malaysia-based Astro All Asia Networks Plc. The $25 million joint venture includes collaboration in content creation for filmed and other entertainment products in Indian languages including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and Bengali for distribution to international markets. A Tamil channel would be developed exclusively for distribution on the Astro DTH multi-channel television platform in Malaysia and other South East Asian markets. The launch of Surjo, a Bengali language channel, also falls within the ambit of the joint venture.
Incidentally, Astro recently made an announcement that it would invest over the next three years to develop channels on its own and through joint ventures in Malay, Mandarin and certain Indian languages to be distributed locally and internationally.
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.
