News Broadcasting
ASCI upholds complaint against Republic’s TV promo claiming network leadership
MUMBAI: The Fast Track Complaints Panel (FTCP) of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), in a meeting held on 27 March 2019, has upheld a complaint against Republic’s leadership claim of being the country’s largest news network with a reach of 184 million.
The Arnab Goswami-led network’s press note and TV promo with claim of being "India's No. 1 News Network" with "184 Million Viewers" was deemed ‘false and misleading’ by the FTCP after a technical expert and the ASCI secretary general conducted a personal hearing with both the complainant as well as the advertiser representatives.
The FTCP reviewed the channel promo videos, and noted the advertiser’s written response. The details of the complaint and the rationale for claim support was taken into consideration.
“The TV promo was not accompanied with any disclaimer to indicate the source of claim. The TV promo was in contravention of BARC advisory as well as Chapter I.1, I.2, I.4, I.5 and IV. 1 (a) and (b) as well as ASCI guidelines on disclaimers,” read the letter, which has been reviewed by Indiantelevision.com.
Ruling in favour of the complainant, the FTCP said that Republic had selectively picked only a subset of channels of their competitive networks and described these subsets as the “network”.
It noted, “The comparison among networks should include all channel under the common corporate umbrella. Selectively picking and choosing amounts to transgressing Chapter IV.1 (a) and (b).”
Republic in its defence asserted that it has used the data of only one week, i.e. the 10th week of 2019, for the promotional purpose as it had taken them over five weeks to ensure full availability in their addressable market.
FTCP further stated that due to the TRAI tariff order implementation, BARC had informed its subscribers to not use the viewership data for any public communication from week 6 onwards. Republic network’s representative admitted to being aware of the said BARC advisory and assured to adhere to the same during their personal hearing.
The channel indicated compliance and confirmed that the TV promo was a one-time telecast and has been discontinued.
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.
