News Broadcasting
Aaj Tak claims absolute numero uno status amongst news channels; launches new ad campaign
Aaj Tak is making hay out of the conflict in Afghanistan. If the ratings are to be believed, the Hindi news channel from the India Today stable has soared way ahead of competitors Star News and Zee News, as well as the BBC and CNN.
As per TAM figures for the week ended 20 October, Aaj Tak commanded a 50 per cent share as against Zee News’ 35 per cent share. BBC had a share of 5 per cent while CNN boasted a 3 per cent share. As per INTAM figures for the week ended 7 October, Aaj Tak had a channel share of 42 per cent as against Zee News’ 37 per cent. Aaj Tak maintained the channel share among the premium audiences (Sec A,B/25+) as well, while the channel share of Zee News dropped by 5 per cent.
The channel claims that on 7 October, the day the news that the hilly nation had been attacked by the coalition against terrorism broke, Aaj Tak drew the highest audience, with the channel witnessing a 156 per cent increase in its viewership. Viewers, says a press release, tuned into Aaj Tak for national as well as international news.
It had earlier witnessed an increase of four times in its usual viewership immediately after the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York.
Says Aaj Tak CEO G Krishnan: “Aaj Tak’s dynamic programming wheel format coupled with the state-of-the-art technology and uplink facility from India allows it to break news immediately.”
The media group is hoping to further consolidate the gains it has made in recent times by harping on this point in a new ad campaign, which is planned to run across outdoor, cinema, radio and print until March 2002. The campaign tries to reinforce the message Aaj Tak is the first to deliver news to viewers.
Communication for the outdoors is largely slated to be through hoardings (billboards), kiosks and buses in Delhi and Mumbai. The key line of the ad campaign: “Aaj Tak -Sabse Tez Channel”. Promos can also be watched in leading cinema halls nationally and heard on select FM and Vivid Bharati radio stations in all major cities.
The extensive media activity is to be complemented through ad releases in group magazines such as India Today and Business Today.
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.
