News Broadcasting
Soccer scores in select cities, cricket carries on unscathed
The World Cup is heating up and how. Soccer may be getting more eyeballs as the race to the World Cup gets hotter, but cricket continues to rule the average Indian heart. That is the message the ratings give.
Viewership for the World Cup in the week ended 8 June shot up considerably in the metros, according to TAM. Reports say the Argentina versus England match recorded a rating of 3.3 as compared to the previous week’s high of 1.45 TVR. Football however, is yet to get into the Top 100 – something that the India-West Indies one dayer did without so much as raising a sweat with a TVR of 6.31 on 2 June. The match helped ESPN climb into the top 100 shows in C&S homes at number 13, according to TAM.
In some places though soccer has done well for itself on the fledgling Ten Sports. For the first match between France and Senegal, Kolkata garnered TVRs of over 20 in the SEC A,B,C males 15-44 category. The second day’s matches have also done relatively well, but only in select metros like Kolkata and Cochin (where it got ratings of 32.5 and 20.4 in SEC A and B 15 + males). Mumbai and Delhi have caught up only in the second week, and the nine metro average hovered below a TVR of 5 in the first week, if TAM figures are to be believed.
Cricket on the other hand shows a steady following despite rain and losses. ESPN claims an advantage on this score, pointing out that on 1 June, cricket ratings peaked at TVR of 3.5 even after it rained during the fourth ODI, while soccer managed a peak TVR of just below 2 throughout the world cup matches during the day. Viewers, of course, had the advantage of checking out soccer during the first half of the day before switching loyalties to cricket in the second half.
ESPN also points to the nine city average on the opening day of the World Cup when the match drew a peak TVR of just above two, while the third ODI between India and the Windies on 29 May drew a peak TVR over nine.
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.
