News Broadcasting
IndiaCast to build ‘News 18 India’ brand internationally
MUMBAI: Within a year of it first launching in the UK, IndiaCast is playing on the on-going general elections card and taking the news brand News 18 India to other parts of the world.
The channel that first began broadcasting in the UK in July last year and had content from CNN –IBN with customisation to fit local taste, has now gone ahead and launched it in Singapore and the middle east as well. Deals have been inked with Mio TV by SingTel in Singapore and e-Vision by Etisalat in the Middle East.
The channel will offer news from the country which includes current affairs, politics, local weather and business news. “We want to expand the news business globally but differently. We are creating a hybrid channel with a lot of business content as well. We have the expertise with CNBC and moneycontrol.com. So ‘News 18 India’ will feature market opening, market closing, daily market roundup, weekly market roundup etc. The programming will be made for our international feed by teams here but won’t be shown to the Indian channels,” says IndiaCast group COO Gaurav Gandhi speaking to indiantelevision.com.
The world has shifted its focus to India due to the general elections, giving IndiaCast, a good enough reason to launch it now. Within the next two- three months, the channel will also be launched in the US, Canada and other global markets.
The network feels that News 18 India in the UK was a huge success leading it to being build globally. Going forward it is also exploring options of inserting capsules of local news. “We want to make it an international service for looking into India. Outside India, people don’t want to carry four channels but they want to know the political news and business news. So we are providing them one wholesome channel. India is important to the world and now since elections are happening we have upped the game on News 18,” adds Gandhi.
This apart, five of its ETV GECs have been launched on e-Vision’s platform eLife TV- ETV Marathi, ETV Bangla, ETV Telugu, ETV Gujarati and ETV Urdu.
Additionally, Rishtey which recently set its foot on the Indian soil will also be traveling countries very soon. US and Australia are the next markets to launch Rishtey but with different, customised feed. “We launched Rishtey first in UK as an FTA channel. Then we saw potential for it in India and so we got it as an FTA channel here too. When we launch it in other parts of the world, it won’t be FTA, but a pay TV service,” highlights Gandhi.
Rishtey in the UK has content from both India as well as Pakistan and it aims to keep its differentiation in other markets too. As of now, Rishtey in India, which just finished distribution across various platforms, is now looking at getting advertisements.
The network also recently launched the Asia-Pacific feed for its flagship channel Colors.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
