News Broadcasting
DD acquires Asian Games telecast rights
NEW DELHI: Indian pubcaster Doordarshan is aggressively attempting to recover dues to shore up its bottomlines, while continuing to programme acquisitions of events held outside India.
The Commonwealth Games 2006 may be appearing a trifle distant, but DD has managed to swing a deal relating to Asian Games.
According to Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma, DD has acquired exclusive telecast rights of the Asian Games, to be held in Doha, for $ 400,000.
“Last time we had paid about $ 350,000 and the hike in the rights prices of Asian Games looks reasonable, unlike Commonwealth Games, for us,” he added.
DD may have acquired the Asian Games, but its marketing still remains open to criticism.For example, in the case of Olympics, while world over TV networks made money through telecast, DDs outflow was more than inflow of money.
NOTICES TO TV CHANNELS ON OLYMPICS FOOTAGES
That there is a bid to improve revenue collection comes through clearly from the news that DD has sent notices to most private sector satellite news channels to pay up for excess footages of Olympics used by them. Reason: DD had acquired the exclusive rights for the India region.
According to Sarma,We have asked the private TV channels to pay up by 31 March,2005 as the channels concerned have used excess of footage of the Olympics than what is allowed as per international norms for free use.”
The total amount due to DD, or being sought to be recovered from private TV news channels, amounts to Rs 7 million.
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.
