News Broadcasting
Two new categories in this year’s Asian Television Awards
A record number of over 1,200 entries have been received this year for the Asian Television awards out of which 78 programmes and 34 performances have been shortlisted for the final awards ceremony. The awards will be presented on 4 December 2001 during a live televised ceremony hosted by MediaCorp Television. The annual ceremony is part of a broader television industry week, which also includes the Asia Television Forum and Conference, and the one-day Strategic Summit held in Singapore.
Two new categories have been added this year. One of the categories added is for the best Station / Channel of the Year.
The Broadcaster of the Year award was based on the number of awards won by a company’s stations, regardless of how many there are. Earlier on, during television’s infancy, when there were fewer channels and less network consolidation, only parent broadcasters were recognised rather than individual stations.
Since the television industry has evolved and grown rapidly, the number of services controlled by single broadcasters too, have grown significantly. This has put broadcasters who do not have multiple services at a disadvantage in the Broadcaster of the Year category, hence the new category of Station / Channel of the Year has been introduced, which will allow all channels to compete on the same basis, regardless of whether they are part of multi-channel broadcasters or not.
Another new category addition this year is Best Youth Programme as young audiences in Asia are an increasingly important consideration in media buying and scheduling decisions.
The category, Best Wildlife programme, has been changed to Best Natural History or Wildlife programme.
The total number of categories for the Asian Television Awards 2001 has gone up to 26 with the two new additions
Countries participating in this event are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
A number of Indian programmes have been shortlisted in the programmes category for the finals on 4 December where the best programmes in Asia will be showcased.
These include:
Best current affairs programme – Hard Talk (India) produced by United Television for BBC.
Best childrens programme – Shakalala Boom Boom produced by UTV Software Communications Ltd for national broadcaster Doordarshan.
Best News/Current affairs special – Vote 2000 produced by New Delhi Television India for Star News.
Best Infortainment Programme- Kumbh Mela produced by MTV India Pvt.Ltd. and Wheels, Series-7 produced by Miditech (P) Ltd for BBC.
Most Imaginative programme – Hospital produced by Miditech for BBC.
In the performance categories of Asian TV Awards the following Indians have been shortlisted:
Best Current Affairs or Magazine Programme Presenter – Karan Thapar from United Television and Niret Alva of Miditech.
Best Light Entertainment Presenter / Performer – “Apro Dikhra” Cyrus Broacha of MTV India Pvt. Ltd.
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.
