News Broadcasting
I&B jt secretary Rakesh Mohan dissatisfied with CAS preparations in Mumbai
MUMBAI: He came, he saw, he was not happy with what he saw.
That reportedly sums up what was the feeling that information and broadcasting joint secretary Rakesh Mohan carried back with him to his bosses in Mandi House at the end of a two-day “reconnaisance” trip to Mumbai to ascertain ground realities and check the preparedness of the multi-system operators (MSOs) and cable operators to usher in the post-14 July era of the conditional access system (CAS).
Mohan met the representatives of several MSOs and also had discussions with Mumbai based cable operators. Sources indicate that Mohan had expressed disappointment with the current state of affairs wherein certain MSOs didn’t have CAS headends in place; others had ground connectivity problems; still others have got into a stalemate situation with distributors as they tried to woo franchisees directly.
Certain MSOs reportedly argued that they had initiated certain measures but the lack of clarity on the pricing issue (broadcasters not declaring individual pay channel prices) and hassles related to imports/manufacture of set top boxes had slowed down the process and made them cautious. They expressed a viewpoint that MSOs were caught in a trap between the broadcasters and the cable operators.
Another major issue relates to the fact that the government task force seems to be oblivious of the concerns of the Mumbai based cable operators.
Sonali Cable proprietor and WIN Cable distributor Suvarna G Amonkar, who met Mohan, expressed surprise over the joint secretary’s contention that the concerns of Mumbai’s cable operators hasn’t reached the government. “Mumbai based cable operators didn’t have any representation on the CAS task force till the I&B minister appointed Shekhar Joshi of Cable Vision recently. The earlier representative of cable operators in the task force didn’t raise his voice and merely toed the line of the MSOs.”
All eyes now on the scheduled meetings between the I&B ministry and the broadcasters/MSOs/cable operators scheduled for early next week.
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.
