News Broadcasting
CNBC asserts lead over NDTV 24×7 among affluent adult males
MUMBAI: The ratings war is well and truly joined. Three days after NDTV’s new business channel NDTV Profit asserted it had toppled market leader CNBC-TV18 in viewership among business news channels, comes the riposte.
A release issued by the business news channel leader reaffirms a position it had taken at the outset in response to the assertions made by NDTV Profit of overtaking CNBC-TV18 if a C&S 4+ all India market was taken as the sampling TG. Quoting the latest TAM data (22-29 January), CNBC claims pole position among English news channels at 36 per cent channel share among of 25+ males in SEC AB. That is even ahead of Profit’s English news channel sibling NDTV 24×7, which has a 33 per cent share. And where does Profit figure in this listing? In the fourth position with a 9 per cent channel share just behind Headlines Today at 11 per cent.
Interestingly, CNBC’s argument is validated by Ravi Kiran, managing director, West/South Starcom Mediavest, who says, “As a media planner, this (the TG that CNBC has used) represents to me the core viewership of an English news channel.”
Elaborating further on the trends the data threw, Sai Kumar, vice-president, CNBC-TV18 says, “Also noteworthy is the potential of the business television space; going by the fact that within a month of its launch NDTV Profit has managed to get a 9 per cent share. We are confident, that Awaaz, our consumer channel in Hindi will exploit this potential even further.
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.
