News Broadcasting
DD to telecast cricket with 7-minute time lag
NEW DELHI: Millions of viewers who don’t have access to the Nimbus owned Neo Sports can finally heave a sigh of relief. The Delhi High Court has ruled that terrestrial broadcaster Doordarshan can telecast the ongoing cricket series between India and the West Indies “deferred live” with a seven-minute delay.
Seven minutes on an average comprises two overs bowled on the trot. All India Radio will, however, be allowed to broadcast its commentary live, with no time lag.
The consensus emerged after the High Court, in its order issued today, ruled that 50 million viewers (who don’t have cable TV access) cannot be denied the right to watch the game.
The timing of the ruling is critical since it comes a day ahead of the second One-Day International to be played in Cuttack, Orissa. It may be recalled that millions of viewers missed out on the action Sunday that saw India defeating the West Indies in the first ODI that was played at Nagpur.
While issuing his orders, Justice SK Kaul made it clear that this was an interim ruling and that the final decision about the Sri Lanka series (that follows immediately after the current four-match Pepsi series gets over) will be taken on 8 February.
On the petition filed by Nimbus yesterday, the court asked Prasar Bharati to file its replies by 29 January, to which Nimbus will have to file its rejoinder by 1 February.
Nimbus’ counsel argued that it would stand to lose cmmercially if Doordarshan were allowed a live feed and said DD was being adamant despite concessions offered by Neo Sports.
Reacting to the news, information & broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi welcomed the decision of the court, stating it (the ruling) was only fair considering DD has “96 per cent reach in the country”.
Nimbus Sports, the rights holders for the BCCI organized cricket events in India that it had acquired for a whopping $ 612 million, had earlier offered to give the feed to Prasar Bharati, but only under certain specific conditions, and these were not acceptable to the pubcaster.
Nimbus had originally suggested a 15 minute deferred telecast on DD referred ‘as live’. Nimbus also did not agree to DD showing the matches on its DTH platform DD Direct Plus.
Nimbus had said if at all it shares the feed, the signals would have to be encrypted so that it reached houses only on the terrestrial network and not those that get DD signals through cable TV.
The talks broke down after Prasar Bharati officials, citing previous government orders and court rulings they claim had gone in their favour, said they should get live feed of the cricket series without any conditions, and that it was also to be shared on DD’s DTH platform.
Following the breakdown of talks DD officials had gone back to taking the cover of the Uplink-Downlink Guidelines that perforce allow DD to get the telecast feed.
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.
