Mumbai: Big CBS Prime and Bloomberg TV are launching a new show titled ‘India‘s Prime Icon‘.

To be simulcast on both the channels, starting 12 October, the show will air every Friday and Saturday at 9.30 pm.

The channel has partnered with Seagram‘s 100 Pipers as the presenting sponsor for the show while MTS has come on board as the associate sponsor.

Twenty names from the most talked about and iconic personalities of India have been shortlisted as the Top 20 contenders for the privileged title of India‘s Prime Icon.

The show will chronicle the lives of some of India‘s "biggest names" spanning various fields and professions. It will take viewers up-close and personal with an "exclusive" look into the lives of these personalities.

The contenders for India‘s Prime Icon include names like Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, Shahrukh Khan, AP Abdul Kalam, Nitish Kumar and Aamir Khan.

Also on the show to provide their expert views will be a panel of opinion leaders which include Prasoon Joshi, Suhel Seth and Malvika Sangghvi. The trio will feature on the show as Opinion Leaders to help the viewers select India‘s Prime Icon.

Big CBS Networks business head Anand Chakravarthy said, "India‘s boasts of some of the most inspirational personalities who are considered role models to many. Apart from bringing India the best international content, Big CBS Prime has constantly been bringing quality home grown shows like India‘s Prime Icon, India‘s Sexiest Bachelor and more, which have resonated excellently with audiences. India‘s Prime Icon is an innovative concept, which has not been explored in the past and has been designed to offer a unique opportunity for Indian viewers to connect with their favourite idols."

MUMBAI: The Hockey India League is going strength to strength, Close on the heels of Sahara Group acquiring Lucknow franchise, the Hockey India League has roped in another major business house. Jaypee Group (Jaiprakash Associates) has taken the Punjab franchise of the fledgling league that will debut in January 2013.

The high-profile Hockey India League, which has secured a window on the International Hockey Federation (FIH) calendar, will see six teams play on a home-and-away basis. The 33-match series, which will run from 5 January to 13 February, will be broadcast on ESPN Star Sports.

This is Jaypee?s second big investment in sports apart from the Jaypee Sports City which hosted the Indian Grand Prix. The company has appointed Sachin Tendulkar as brand ambassador for its flagship cement brand Jaypee Cement.

Hockey India Secretary-General and HIL Chairman Dr. Narinder Batra said, "When we have such groups as Sahara India and JAL as the first two HIL franchises, we not only feel encouraged that Indian hockey will get a fillip but also believe players from around the world will love competing in the tournament."

JAL executive chairman Manoj Gaur said he is thrilled that JAL is a HIL franchise. "By participating in HIL, the Jaypee Group has taken a definite step forward on way to help Indian hockey regain glory. The Punjab franchise that we have taken will get the Group?s full backing and we will be able to raise a world class team.

"We will arrange best of coaching and other facilities for our players so that they could be trained to not only lift the HIL Trophy but also contribute in India winning major international tournaments."

He further added, "Our participation in HIL is in a way also redemption of our Founder Chairman Shri Jaiprakash Gaur?s dream of grooming a battalion of young hockey players who will, in turn, help India dominate international hockey for a long time to come."

The six franchises will be selected from a pool of 12 cities that have infrastructure and facilities to host a match.

Earlier, Sahara Group had announced that it is taking franchise rights of Lucknow team. Apart from being the sponsor of Indian hockey team, Sahara has also been a global partner of the International Hockey Federation.

MUMBAI: Two Indian cricketers have made it to the Forbes list of World?s 100 Highest-Paid Athletes list, with Mahendra Singh Dhoni earning more than Sachin Tendulkar.

Dhoni ranks 31 in the richie rich list with total earnings of $26.5 million, way ahead of the master blaster who occupied the 78th position with earnings of $18.6 million. A large chunk of their earnings came from endorsements with Dhoni earning as much as $23 million from it compared to Tendulkar?s $16.5 million.

Globally, it?s the boxers who have raked in the moolah with American pro Floyd Mayweather topping the list with $85 million earnings, followed by Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao at $62 million.

Golf icon Tiger Woods, who has been topping the Forbes list since 2001, fell to third spot with $59.4 million, his earnings off by $16 million from the previous year and by half since his peak in 2009.

Basketball star LeBron James is fourth at $53 million, the highest of 13 basketball players on the list. Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer is fifth at $52.7 million followed by another basketball player Kobe Bryant at $52.3 million and US golfer Phil Mickelson at $47.8 million. English football star David Beckham made $46 million.

The top 100 athletes made $2.6 billion.