News Broadcasting
ESPN-Star Sports vs InCable: Sports broadcaster claims cable network is misleading subscribers
Last night at 9 pm it was EPSN Software which took the decision to switch off the transmission of both ESPN and Star Sports to one of the largest Indian MSOs InCableNet. The reason it claimed: the failure of InCable to sign a fresh service contract for the period commencing on 1 January 2002 after the monthly subscription rates for the channel were raised from Rs 16 to Rs 24. The earlier annual service contract with InCable expired on 31 December, 2001.
InCableNet immediately responded by flashing a message on the frequencies on which two channels were being transmitted that ESPN-Star had taken the decision to turn off its IRDs, despite a court order and advance payments being made to the broadcaster, adding that it would move the court on Monday.
The riposte from ESPN Software came today. It issued a press release which said that “subscribers of InCable Network in Mumbai are being misled into believing false and baseless statements screened by its management the cable network.
The press release has ESPN Software vice-president – affiliate sales Sricharan Iyengar, saying that the InCable Network management is making completely baseless statements and is attempting to mislead their own viewers. There is no existing court order that prevents ESPN Software India from discontinuing the ESPN and STAR Sports services to InCable following the expiry of the service contract on December 31, 2001. Despite repeated efforts from our side for the past four weeks, InCable Network has not signed the new service contract for ESPN & STAR Sports. As there is no contract between ESPN Software and InCable Network for the period commencing January 1, 2002, the question of an advance payment as falsely alleged by InCable does not and cannot arise,
He adds: In our view, it is InCable which is holding its viewers to ransom and are actually serving self-interests in the guise of protecting public interest. InCable Network claims to service over 15.5 lakh (1.55 million) subscriber homes in Mumbai. However it directly pays us for only 1.5 lakh (150,000) homes which is less than 10 percent of the homes claimed to be serviced by the Network.
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.
