News Broadcasting
India’s NatWest cricket finals win delivers ESPN year’s highest C&S ratings
MUMBAI: ESPN’s live telecast of the NatWest series finals on 13 July registered an unprecedented viewership with ratings touching a record high of 19.31 TVR for all C&S homes 4+ category, the company has asserted.
The final hour of the NatWest finals on ESPN thus created a record for the most watched television programme this year across all channels by registering an average of 14.7 TVR for all C&S homes, 4 + category, an official release states, quoting TAM Media Research data.
During the nail-biting finish which saw some electric performances by India’s young turks led by new batting sensation Mohammed Kaif , Male, 15+, SEC ABC, all India, the target group for media buyers on sports channels, registered a record TVR of 22.16, the highest for any sports broadcast across C&S homes for the last two years.
Manu Sawhney, managing director of ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd., said: “I believe a combination of exciting India playing one-day cricket, the exclusive nature of live telecast on ESPN, and ESPN STAR Sports being the highest penetrated encrypted channels across India helped us deliver the record ratings.”
More audiences tuned in for the entire duration of India batting telecast on ESPN (over 4 hours) recording a phenomenal average of 11.5 TVR for all C&S homes 4+ category, and 15.3 TVR for Male, 15+, SEC ABC, all India, the target group for the sports channels, the release states.
Over 23.6 million people across all C&S homes tuned in to watch an amazing Indian victory scoring over 325 runs playing second! Over 42 per cent of all males in 15+ SEC ABC category across the C&S homes India tuned in, the data shows.
The average sport ratings during the entire Indian batting session of the NatWest series final telecast on ESPN recorded a TVR of 13.4 offering tremendous value to sponsors Pepsi, LG, Samsung, TVS, Sahara India and Hindustan Lever, the release says.
Next up for ESPN Star Sports is the live and exclusive telecast of the India-England test series begins on Star Sports on Thursday, 25 July.
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.
