News Broadcasting
English TV news channels to return to BARC fold from midnight 26 May
MUMBAI: There’s another twist in the tale of the story of the ratings of news television channel debutante Republic TV. The five English TV news channel members of the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) of India, which had stripped their signals of Broadcast Audience Research Council’s (BARC’s) audio water mark last week, agreed to reinsert it in their streams from their studios just as the clock hand moves past midnight of 26 May.
This means that NDTV 24×7, Times Now, India Today, NewsX and CNN News18 will once again come under the ambit of BARC’s viewership monitoring. Around a week ago, they had raised a protest after BARC had refused to heed their plea that it should not report Republic TV’s ratings as it had allegedly resorted to rampant multiple LCN placement on cable TV networks across India.
A spate of appeals, petitions, court hearings followed, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India cracked down on the errant cable TV platforms and almost every appellant and respondent claimed victory following the court orders and directions.
But finally, hopefully the curtains have been drawn on the messy affair of English news channels, Republic TV, the NBA, TRAI and BARC which suddenly brought them under the spotlight.
According to a report in a legal website, TV Today Network that had asked for reliefs in a case filed by it against Republic TV in Delhi HC, at one stage submitted that if the malpractice was no longer existent then it would not press for the reliefs prayed for in the petition, provided that the respondents state this on record. After the taking the statements of the respondents on record, the petition was dismissed as withdrawn without the court going into the contentions of either the petitioners or respondents.
However, NBA maintained the resolution to the crisis was found with Republic TV committing to the Delhi High court that it will cease resorting to placing itself on multiple LCNs and BARC explaining to the association the process to approach such complaints satisfactorily.
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.
