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Zee’s bid highest, poised to win India cricket rights
NEW DELHI / MUMBAI: Talk about pulling a rabbit out of the hat. Zee Group CMD Subhash Chandra certainly chose a mighty big one in the India cricket rights bid when his company pipped all the “fancied” rivals to the post with a Rs 12.06 billion winning punt.
Zee Group CMD Subhash Chandra: Pulling cricket rights plug on his rivals?
The tenders for the live television and radio broadcast rights for international matches to be played in India for the next four years were opened at 2:30 pm. And it was Zee’s bid of Rs 12.06 billion (some numerology here?) that according to industry sources came out “ahead by a nose” of close second Sony Entertainment Television India.
There is still some due process to be followed though, which is why the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI), which had called for the tenders last Saturday, cannot make any announcement just yet. Price Waterhouse Cooper, which had been mandated by the BCCI to vet all bid proposals, will complete its audit of all the bids and then submit its report.
ZEE SPORTS CHANNEL ON THE ANVIL
Barring unforeseen hiccups, Zee’s bid is expected to be ratified at the BCCI working committee meeting early next week after which a formal announcement that Chandra has taken cricket’s “BIG ONE” will be made. The immediate question that flows out of this of course is what will Zee do with the rights? Look forward to an announcement of the launch of Zee Sports in due course once the deal has been signed and delivered.
The telecast rights that Zee is all set to win runs from 1 October 2004 to 30 September 2008.
So is this the last word on the subject. Not quite, according to a senior broadcast industry executive. There may still be some surprise twists in the tale still to unravel, he says.
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.
