News Broadcasting
New TV channel to focus on Middle America
LOS ANGELES: The America Channel is planning to launch a new cable channel aimed at showing real American life between the East and West coasts is planned for launch next year.
The 24-hour channel will focus on “real reality and real storytelling” about the nation and its people. The channel will seek an investment of around $65 million – that experts say is well below the $100 million to $125 million that non-fiction networks typically need to raise.
An nj.com report has quoted The America Channel chairman and CEO Doron Gorshein as saying that Middle America has fantastic stories to tell and the channel will attempt to do so.
“The channel is aimed at filling a void created by television’s tendency to focus on life in New York and Los Angeles. This kind of content is not there and our market research indicates a clear cut gap,” Gorshein, who as a Turner Broadcasting executive had responsibility for CNN’s international licensing.
Among the planned series are American Stories highlighting the achievements of ordinary people; Campus Report with students documenting college life; and Faces of America focusing on the nation’s social, cultural and ethnic diversity. Another programme America from Afar will examine what foreign media are reporting about American leaders, events and people.
The America Channel conducted a survey and the following were the findings: of the 600 cable and satellite subscribers surveyed nationally, 58 per cent said TV doesn’t reflect the real America and 63 per cent said they would like to know more about people’s everyday lives. Nearly half, 47 per cent, said it is difficult to find TV content “that really speaks to me,”.
The nj.com report states that America Channel expects to be available to between 3 million and 6 million cable subscribers at launch and eventually reach more than 50 million homes. By comparison, channels such as CNN, A&E and Fox News Channel each reach 80 million or more US households.
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.
