News Broadcasting
BBC’s digi channels going from strength to strength in UK
MUMBAI: As the BBC launches its latest digital marketing campaign targeted at analogue viewers yet to go digital it has announced that its six digital channels are performing strongly.
A company release informs that since the start of its digital campaign in October 2002 the digital market has grown by 32 per cent. Millions of more people are now able to watch the BBC’s digital channels on cable, satellite and with Freeview.
BBC Three’s share since launching in February 2003 has increased by 27 per cent for all viewers and by 38 per cent for the target audience (25-34) compared with last year.
The BBC also claims that since the fourth quarter of last year BBC Four has been out-performing all comparable specialist multichannels in terms of weekly reach. It leads the channel share along with Discovery.
Its share for the year to date is at 0.44 per cent. This represents an increase of 69 per cent on the same period last year. Between November 2003 and February 2004 BBC Four was able to reach more than one in five digital viewers each month. This amounts to over six million people.
As far the kids genre is concerned last month The CBBC Channel was second place among the non-preschool channels, with an average share of 3.8 per cent. In addition the release claims that CBeebies remains the market leader of children’s TV with share in March 2004 holding steady at 7.3 per cent. This is more than double the second ranking preschool channel. BBC News 24 has seen an increase in reach of 16 per cent from 2002 to 2003 bringing total reach up to 4.2 million.
The last few months of 2003 saw one million set top box and integrated digital television sets sold for Freeview. The BBC claims that in December alone half a million boxes were sold. This ensured that digital terrestrial television became the second largest digital platform behind satellite.
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.
