News Broadcasting
Pak may beam Indian channels again
MUMBAI: Two weeks after I&B minister RS Prasad exhorted Pakistan to allow the return of Indian satellite channels into its airwaves, come reports that the country is poised to lift the ban on Indian TV channels.
Citing the improving diplomatic relations between the two nations as the driving force for the change of heart, Pakistan’s Daily Times quotes the Cable Operators Association of Pakistan as saying that a formal announcement was awaited shortly. “However, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has still not told us when it was going to lift the ban,” the report quotes association vice president Tahir Khan as saying. Indian satellite channels have been officially banned in Pakistan since December 2001, after the attack on the Indian Parliament prompted both countries to suspend pleasantries.
While the demand for these channels, particularly general entertainment channels like Star Plus, Sony and Zee, is huge, the Pakistan government’s strictures had prevented the cable ops from openly airing them, prompting cable ops to say that they had been incurring huge losses. The Daily Times now indicates that Islamabad has no objection to lifting the ban on channels dedicated to family entertainment. News channels would also be allowed in, in a phased manner, the report indicates.
“Indian entertainment channels are popular with Pakistanis and can help the cable operators continue their business,” the newspaper quotes Khan as saying, pointing out that subscriptions to cable TV were falling rapidly for lack of Indian channels. In 2003, many cable ops in Pakistan switched off five news channels – CNN, BBC, ARY, Geo and Indus News – in protest against the government’s continuing ban on Indian channels.
At at the 10th international conference of the Broadcast Engineering Society in New Delhi this month, Prasad had hinted that the Pakistani government should lift the ban on Indian TV channels and help in the free flow of information, helping the confidence building process between the two countries.
Incidentally, Sardar Irfan Ashraf and Shahzad Munawar Khan, general manager and assistant general manager, respectively, of Pemra, are scheduled to be in Kolkata this week for the annual cable TV show, being organised by the Cable Television Equipment Traders & Manufacturers Association (Cetma).
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.
