News Broadcasting
DD National to air ‘matinee shows’ on Saturdays
MUMBAI: Doordarshan (DD) seems to be banking on the Bollywood formula to woo viewers during the afternoon slot on the last Saturday of the month. Starting 29 March, DD National has started airing a Hindi film in the 3-6 pm slot.
The film screened on 29 March was ace director Shekhar Kapoor’s Masoom starring Jugal Hansraj, Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah. Marketing concessionaire Reasonable Advertising, which markets BR TV’s Aap Beeti , bagged the mandate of putting together the package for the newly developed slot, including the selection of the movie.
The film shown last Saturday managed to rake in advertising moolah, despite the fact that the telecast coincided with the financial year end for several clients. Other clients who had spent heavily during the cricket World Cup also stayed away due to budgetary constraints. However, big guns Colgate, Bajaj Sevashram, Dabur and Parle Products were the major sponsors.
Regional vernacular movies are normally aired in the Saturday afternoon-evening slot and they get good advertising support from advertisers. DD’s primetime Hindi film slot is scheduled for evenings.
With this new experiment, DD is seeking to examine the possibility of expanding its viewer base in the afternoon slot.
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.
