News Broadcasting
Chandra’s ASC seeks fresh teleport license
NEW DELHI: In a bid to push through a proposal to have a headend in the sky, the Subhash Chandra-promoted ASC Enterprises Ltd., which amongst other things is implementing the Agrani satellite project, has now sought the Indian government’s permission for a licence for a teleport for uplinking purposes. This would also help Agrani as it is a prospective KU-band direct-to-home (DTH) player.
This has been necessitated as an earlier proposal by the Chandra-controlled Zee Telefilms, seeking the government’s green signal to ‘turnaround’ satellite channels in a digital format from its uplink base on the outskirts of Delhi for, what Zee calls, headend in the sky project was turned down on the ground that the proposed project was a case of uplinking for which separate permission would have to be sought.
While government officials admitted to have “seen a headend in the sky proposal in the information and broadcasting ministry and uplink permission” (with Parliament in session, government officials generally are averse to giving out details to the media), Zee group sources indicated that an application from ASC Enterprises for a teleport licence has been submitted recently.
It was also clarified that as Agrani is a serious and prospective DTH player in India, the teleport licence will help it when a DTH platform is put together by it. In the meantime, the teleport facility could also be used for implementing the headend in the sky project.
Zee, through its cable subsidiary Siti Cable, has been aggressively pushing for a headend in the sky which, it says, will substantially lower investments on cable headends by cable operators and multi-system operators as and when conditional access system (CAS) is implemented.
What is headend in the sky ? In short, pay channels are decrypted and aggregated at a central facility, then all channels are up-linked with common CAS inserted. After this, the channels are downlinked at headends where the cable operator with the help of a trans-modulator makes the satellite signals compatible for a cable system and mixes signals of free-to-air channels for further re-distribution to cable subscribers. The combined channels go to subscriber’s set top box and get decrypted for viewing on the TV set.
According to broadcasting industry sources, for the headend in the sky project to succeed, other broadcasters like Star and Sony have to agree to common encryption which, media observers say, is a tough nut to crack. Still, industry sources indicated talks have been initiated at both formal and informal levels with other broadcasters for inclusion of their respective channels in the common encrypted signal. A headend in the sky project is likely to cost between Rs 150-180 million. Technical advantages of this apart, in a post-CAS scenario an average cable operator will have to upgrade his system where the costing may work out between Rs. 60,000- Rs 1,00,000 per channel.
At the moment, an average Indian cable home with a comparatively modern TV set is capable of receiving on an average about 50 channels. According to a blueprint of the headend in the sky proposal, prepared by Siti Cable, if necessary permissions come through, then at a later stage the subscriber, through the set top box, can have a new service or go in for a change in his service mix by calling up a toll free number connecting to the subscriber management system ( SMS) and log in his request. The subscriber management centre gives a message to ‘turnaround’ centre and executes the request through a data controller. The billing is generated by SMS and sent to the subscriber through designated means.
It has also been proposed that all stakeholders in the industry should be part of the headend in the sky project and a separate legal entity can be formed with equity stake offered to all stakeholders, namely broadcasters, cable operators, and MSOs.
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.
