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TV Today awarded P1+ rating by CRISIL
NEW DELHI: CRISIL, India’s leading rating agency has awarded P1+ rating to TV Today Network Limited (TVTN) for Rs 150 million Commercial Paper programme.
This is the highest possible rating that is assigned by the agency for a debt programme, and has been awarded to TVTN due to the strong business position of its flagship Hindi news channel Aaj Tak, which has been dominating the Indian news channel scenario for the past two years.
This rating also reflects the company’s profitability and healthy capital structure, which is driven by the management’s sound financial policy and business practices, according to a company statement.
Though TV Today Network CEO G. Krishnan yesterday denied to indiantelevision.com that the company has any plans to go public in the immediate future, the market buzz from India’s financial capital, Mumbai, is that TVTN is actually preparing the ground for an initial public offer.
“There are no immediate plans to go public, but we are working on it. These speculations are there as we had said earlier that the company may go public after three years. Since we have completed three years, the market is talking about it as if it would happen tomorrow,” Krishnan explained.
With a reach of more than 30 million households, strong content and modern technological infrastructure, Aaj Tak has emerged as the country’s leading news channel with the highest viewership share, which has translated into higher revenues. The company’s revenue base has grown from Rs120 million to over Rs1 billion within a short span of two years. The rating also reflects the growing viewership base for news channels and TV’s increasing share of
the media advertising pie, the official statement said.
Notwithstanding these business strengths, TVTN’s business risk profile remains moderated by its focus on the niche news segment and its dependence on Aaj Tak as its key revenue driver. While the company has launched a second news channel Headlines Today to diversify its revenue base, this channel’s viewership share and consequent revenue-generating potential is only expected to grow over the medium term.
Going forward, CRISIL expects that competition in the news channel market to intensify with the entry of new channels such as NDTV India & NDTV 24×7, Sahara Samay and Star News (in its new, all-Hindi format). While this may have a fairly strong impact on the company’s viewership share, Aaj Tak is likely to maintain its leading position in the short to medium term driven by its well-entrenched brand equity and wide reach.
Promoted by the Aroon Purie-controlled India Today Group, TV Today Network is the corporate entity behind Aaj Tak and Headlines Today.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
