News Broadcasting
India TV plans regional & entertainment forays
MUMBAI: The next big phase of expansion in the news genre could well be the regional space. Most broadcasters, including India TV, think so.
The Rajat Sharma – promoted India TV, which has already applied for uplink permission for a Gujarati language news channel to add to its Hindi offering, has set its sights on a Punjabi news channel as well.
Confirming the development, India TV chairman Rajat Sharma told indiantelevision.com, “Punjabi language space look promising as there is no full-fledge news channel operating in that segment.”
Though Sharma refused to dwell further on the company’s plans, industry sources said that the work is in full-swing on the Punjabi and the Gujarati channels, which will only be at a “little incremental cost”, but, more importantly, would add to clout with cable operators.
The Gujarati news channel is expected to launch ahead of the festive season of Diwali or the festival of lights in November, in an attempt to capitalise on the tendency of the advertisers to increase their ad spend during that time.
As for the Punjabi news channel, according to company sources, the target is to put it on air towards the end of 2005. At the moment, players operating in this space, including the Delhi headquartered Punjab Today (part of the group promoting Balle Balle music channel), are few.
That is not all. Indications are that the company is looking at creating a bouquet of channels and has ambitions of entering the entertainment space as well. According to the sources, the company proposes to mark its entry into the entertainment space in 2006.
In its entertainment ambitions, India TV seems to be on the same strategic forward path as the Prannoy Roy – promoted NDTV Ltd that is also toying with an entertainment channel and creating a bouquet of channels after crafting a mark in the news channel space.
India TV is looking at putting its existing and proposed channels on PAS 10 satellite, which will help cable operators to tune-in to the bouquet easily.
India TV, a free channel based in the Film City in Nodia on the outskirts of Delhi, beams via PAS 10 satellite.
The Gujarati news channel is expected to launch ahead of the festive season of Diwali or the festival of lights in November, in an attempt to capitalise on the tendency of the advertisers to increase their ad spend during that time.
As for the Punjabi news channel, according to company sources, the target is to put it on air towards the end of 2005. At the moment, players operating in this space, including the Delhi headquartered Punjab Today (part of the group promoting Balle Balle music channel), are few.
That is not all. Indications are that the company is looking at creating a bouquet of channels and has ambitions of entering the entertainment space as well. According to the sources, the company proposes to mark its entry into the entertainment space in 2006.
In its entertainment ambitions, India TV seems to be on the same strategic forward path as the Prannoy Roy – promoted NDTV Ltd that is also toying with an entertainment channel and creating a bouquet of channels after crafting a mark in the news channel space.
India TV is looking at putting its existing and proposed channels on PAS 10 satellite, which will help cable operators to tune-in to the bouquet easily.
India TV, a free channel based in the Film City in Nodia on the outskirts of Delhi, beams via PAS 10 satellite.
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.
