News Broadcasting
Zee de-links DD cricket channels from Dish TV
NEW DELHI: Dish TV, Zee Group’s direct-to-home service, has discontinued two of Doordarshan’s channels on its platform.
This “arrangement” will be in force for the duration of the ongoing India-Australia cricket series to begin with involving four Test matches. And unless the Supreme Court rules otherwise, it is also likely to include the upcoming India-Pakistan One-Day International (part of the Indian cricket board’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations) and a two-Test India South Africa fixture in November.
Yesterday, Prasar Bharati had written a letter asking Dish TV to take off the DTH platform DD National and DD Sports.
Essel Group, the umbrella entity for Zee Telefilms and ASC Enterprise Ltd (the licence holder for the DTH service), however, made its protests known to Prasar Bharati.
In a letter to Prasar Bharati, Essel Group additional vice-chairman Jawahar Goel wrote : “As per the direction received from CEO Prasar Bharati’s office, we are making arrangement to stop carriage of DD National and DD Sports on Dish TV platform.” He, however, pointed out that Prasar Bharati’s demands were against the broadcast and cable TV regulator’s recommendations on the `must-provide’clause.
Trai, in its recent recommendations on “Issues Relating to Broadcasting and Distribution of TV channels,” had suggested that “every broadcaster shall provide on request signals of its TV channels on a non-discriminatory basis to all distributors of TV channels including cable network, DTH, and head-ends-in-the-sky.”
Though the regulator’s recommendations are yet to be accepted by the government, Dish TV has made it clear indirectly that Prasar Bharati might become the first defaulter of the must-provide clause.
Dish TV has started running a scroll to educate its consumers on how they could access DD National and DD Sports for watching the cricket telecast. Dish TV has claimed that a major portion of its subscriber base is located in far-flung areas of the country where cable or terrestrial TV is difficult to access.
“This issue has also been brought to the knowledge of Trai,” Goel wrote, while confirming his support to the national broadcaster.
Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma expressed satisfaction that the matter has been resolved with Dish TV. A response from Trai, however, could not be elicited.
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.
