News Broadcasting
Aaj Tak, Headlines Today enter US market via Echostar
MUMBAI: After Star News, Zee News and NDTV, it is the turn of TV Today to make its American entry.
Aaj Tak and Headlines Today, two of the three channels managed by TV Today, have tied up with EchoStar’s Dish Network, a leading satellite service provider for South Asian programming in the US.
With this tie-up, Aaj Tak and Headlines Today are expected to reach out to over 100,000 households in the USA from today (6 October).
Speaking on the initiative, TV Today CEO G. Krishnan says: “There is a large Indian diaspora in the US. While the geographical boundaries are shrinking, the distance between them and India seems to be widening. Launching Aaj Tak and Headlines Today on the Dish Network will offer the viewers with live news and analysis straight from home right into their living room.”
He added: “We are delighted to join hands with Dish Network who have established themselves as a market leader with their vision and pioneering efforts and are committed to constantly enhancing their South Asian programming mix.”
TV Today CMD Aroon Purie says: “Aaj Tak and Headlines Today have been able to successfully widen the viewership base for news in India. This step will further widen the base for Indian news internationally.”
Aaj Tak and Headlines Today will be available to Dish subscribers as part of a package and also on an a la carte basis. The price, however, was not disclosed.
“We are excited to serve as the exclusive pay TV provider of Aaj Tak and Headlines Today channels in the United States,” Tracy Thompson, vice president of international programming for Dish Network said.
Aaj Tak has been the undisputed market leader in the Hindi News genre in India since its launch, though several other channels are now snapping at its heels.
Headlines Today, after an erratic start, has made significant inroads in the English news market segment. The third sibling is the recently launched Tez, which is by and large a Hindi version of Headlines Today where news is told crisply and minus lengthy studio discussions, etc.
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.
