News Broadcasting
TV9 launches city-centric channels in Mumbai and Bangalore
MUMBAI: Beating the recession, Hyderabad-based Associated Broadcasting Company Ltd (ABCL), which operates news channels under the brand name TV9, is investing Rs 380 million to launch two city-centric news channels in Mumbai and Bangalore.
TV9 Mumbai and News 9, the channels for Mumbai and Bangalore, will be launched simultaneously on 9 January.
ABCL will invest Rs 220 million in the Hindi news channel TV9 Mumbai and Rs 160 million in the English news channel News 9.
“We are investing Rs 380 million and will be launching the two city-centric channels tomorrow,” ABCL vice president operations KVN Murthy tells Indiantelevision.com.
TV9 will follow up the launch of TV9 Mumbai with Bollywood news channel Lehrein. “We are adding three channels in the quarter to take our total number of channels to eight,” says Murthy.
With the launch of News 9, the group will, thus, have two news channels in Karnataka. “News 9 will be targeted at the upmarket, young audiences in Bangalore. It will complement our Kannada news channel,” says Murthy.
TV9 Mumbai will have 70 per cent of its programming on news and current affairs while the balance 30 per cent will be a mix of lifestyle and entertainment news content.
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.
