News Broadcasting
Sahara targets Feb-end launch for Delhi-specific news channel D1
MUMBAI: Sahara is all set to unleash D1 for the people of Delhi that will cover among other things, local news, campus happenings and shopping options.
The National Capital Region-centric TV channel from the Sahara stable, which has been in the pipeline for quite some time now, is expected to launch by February-end or early March. Going by the project name of D1, the 24-hour news and infotainment channel promises to jazz up things at local level with pacy and relevant programming.
Some other names under consideration for the NCR channel include D’Metro. Pointing out that the proposed channel will be targeting a different news segment besides politics, Sahara India Media and Entertainment senior vice president Ambikanand Sahay explained, “Political news is not the be all and end all. Our NCR-centric channel channel would cater to the needs of the capital’s people in various ways.”
According to Sahay, “The NCR news channel, using both English and Hindi languages, would see a wide canvas of news. Our aim is to provide information on shopping, entertainment, property and real estate, to name a few areas.”
Still there is no denying that the proposed NCR channel, which may face competition from similar fare soon, is looking at being almost an upmarket TV equivalent of Delhi Times or HT City, the city-specific supplements that come with The Times of India or Hindustan Times respectively.
Sanjay Kaw, a former journalist with The Times of India, will head the NCR channel that will have a strength of nearly 140 professionals with about 30 news reporters. Pointed out Sahay, “Bright, young reporters, all below 28 years of age, with a modern mind-set would be the mainstay of D1.”
The channel starts trial runs from today and will beam off the Asiasat 3S satellite. The channel is in the process of distributing the digital decoder boxes and SIME executives expect that over the next week to 10 days all the 114-odd cable networks in the NCR region would have been covered.
D1 would extensively use live feeds through OB vans, placed at strategic points in Delhi and elsewhere, to keep the viewer interest high, says Sahay.
In the recent past, the group launched 24-hour free-to-air regional news channel for Bihar and Jharkhand. This forms part of the Sahara Samay bouquet as the fourth news channel. The company plans to launch six more regional channels in 2005.
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.
