News Broadcasting
Showtime shifts broadcasting centre to Dubai Media City
MUMBAI: Showtime, the Middle East DTH pay TV platform recently opened the region’s largest broadcasting center in Dubai.
The centre can handle over 200 channels. Showtime was set up in 1996 between Kuwait Projects and US media conglomerate Viacom.
The move consolidated the network’s broadcast operations which had earlier been split between a purpose built facility at the MTV/Viacom studios in London, and a complementary uplink centre in Cairo.
Showtime broadcasts 50 channels of predominantly Western entertainment to the Middle East and North Africa from the NileSat position at 7 degrees West. The network also has customer contact centres located in Dubai, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan.
Three months ago Showtime launched a new movie channel Movietime. That took the number of film channels available on the network to 17.
The new 50,000 square feet Dubai facility also houses the network’s headquarters operations including sales and marketing activities and advanced call centre and online customer service functions.
Reports further indicate that Showtime’s new building is next to the Bukhatir owned Taj Television’s Ten Sports office. On an adjacent corner is MBC, the Saudi-owned mainstream network that also owns news satcaster Al-Arabiya. Alongside MBC is CNN’s Middle East operation.
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.
