News Broadcasting
DD-Nimbus shines in all India homes, fails in metros
MUMBAI: Whatever may be the scene in C&S homes, in the all-India market Doordarshan rules. It has been no different for the ongoing ICC World Cup 2003.
For the first three cricket World Cup 2003 matches, DD delivered consistently higher viewership as compared to MAX in the all homes segment, TAM data released by Nimbus says.
A closer look at the ratings shows that DD hasn’t fared well in South India and metros in all India homes. It also fails to make a dent in the C&S households whereas MAX has made gains even in the all-India home markets.
Nimbus Communications senior vice president – TV and sports Sunil Manocha was quoted in a press release as saying: “So far all our estimates and projections in terms of the audience shares and our revenue targets have been right. With the combined advantages of great and innovative scheduling, clear focus on cricket and a world class feed; Doordarshan is all set to emerge the clear winner on ratings and revenues in this cricket World Cup.”
All India
Date
Match
DD1 TVR
Satellite channel TVR
DD reach advantage in per cent
9 Feb 2003
South Africa vs W. Indies
3.6
3.4
6
12 Feb 2003
India vs Holland
6.9
5.4
27
15 Feb 2003
India vs Australia
6.5
5.1
27
Tam India, all homes, all individuals
In fact, the India-Holland and India-Australia match featured on the ninth and tenth positions in the Top 100 programmes list for all India market 4 years plus. The India-Australia match on MAX was placed at the nineteenth position in the Top 100 list for all homes 4 years plus.
DD has a total of 15 cricket related programmes in the Top 100 list whereas MAX had a total of nine programmes in the Top 100 list for all India 4 years plus homes. DD doesn’t feature in the C&S Top 100 list at all. In fact, the West Indies-South Africa, New Zealand-West Indies and Pakistan-Australia matches featured in the Top 100 list in addition to the matches involving India.
The Nimbus release states that DD’s plans for telecasting the 16 ‘Big Gun’ live matches including all India matches and a match every weekend, has paid rich dividends in all the key markets like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Eastern India.
– Doordarshan fares well as compared to the satellite channel in the prosperous markets of Maharashtra, UP, MP, Punjab and Gujarat, say Nimbus officials. However, TAM data says that DD is behind in the Gujarat market.
– South India, the market with highest C&S penetration – Doordarshan averages a 15 per cent higher viewership, claims a Nimbus release. However a closer look reveals that DD has taken a beating in rest of Andhra Pradesh 1 million plus towns including Hyderabad; in Tamil Nadu including Chennai; Karnataka including Bangalore. However, DD fared well in Kerala.
– Doordarshan wins the race over the satellite channel in Kolkata, states the Nimbus release. However, DD lags behind in all the other metros. However, in the India-Australia match, DD scored over MAX in Chennai bu lagged behind in the other two matches.
All India 4 years plus India vs Australia
Region
DD1 TVR
Satellite channel
DD advantage in per cent
North/West
Maha rest
15.7
4.3
265
MP 1 mn +
8.8
1.8
388
UP rest 0.1 to 1 mn
6.2
1.8
244
UP rest 1 mn +
7.2
3.9
85
PHCHP 1mn +
3.3
2.8
18
Guj 1 mn +
5.1
5.6
-8
South
AP rest 1 mn +
3.0
4.3
-30
AP rest 0.1 to 1 mn
3.4
3.9
-13
TN rest 1 mn +
3.3
5.7
-42
TN rest 0.1 to 1 mn
1.7
2.8
-39
Kar rest 0.1 mn to 1 mn
4.6
5.8
-21
Ker 1 mn +
7.1
3.9
82
Metros
Kolkata
11.1
10.3
7
Delhi
4.4
4.4
0
Hyderabad
4.4
5.3
-17
Chennai
3.5
3.3
6
Bangalore
3
7.1
-58
Mumbai
4.4
7.6
-42
All India
6.5
5.1
27
Tam India, all India, all individuals for India-Australia match
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.
