News Broadcasting
Doug Herzog is Spike TV president
MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom has announced that Doug Herzog will be the new president of its male oriented network Spike TV.
He also serves as Comedy Central president. Comedy Central and Spike TV will form a new unit, within MTV Networks, under Herzog.
He takes over Spike TV’s reins from Albie Hecht who put in his papers last week. MTV Networks group president Herb Scannell said, “Doug is a great leader with an incredible track record in developing original hit programming. Spike TV has had a great success to date, branding the network strongly and connecting with viewers and advertisers, which has resulted in ratings and ad sales gains. I know that Doug will take Spike to the next level, by creating strong series for a broader male demo and by furthering the networks’ connection with viewers and business partners.”
MTV Networks chairman Judy McGrath said, “I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Doug’s influence and creative energy on Spike TV — and to create a new unit, under him, along with Comedy Central. Culturally and from a business perspective, there are tremendous opportunities and advantages in bringing these two networks together that share a highly desirable demographic but speak to it independently.”
Herzog said, “I am truly looking forward to working on Spike TV. In an extremely short time, they have built a strong brand that is relevant to its core audience and well-known in a cluttered marketplace. Personally, I am looking forward to finding out what men really want and figuring out how to put some legal version of that on television.”
Spike TV launched on 11 August, 2003 claims to be currently ranked as the third highest rated basic cable network among Males 18-49 (year-to-date) in primetime, according to Nielsen.
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.
