News Broadcasting
Star applies for news uplink licence; seven Indian stakeholders reportedly on board
MUMBAI / NEW DELHI: With seven Indian stakeholders reportedly on board, Star India today announced it had applied to the information and broadcasting ministry for permission to uplink its Star News channel from India.
The application has been made under the guidelines issued by the government of India on 26 March for uplinking of news and current affairs TV Channels from India.
Star announced that it had restructured its news channel business so as to conform to the guidelines. As of now Star holds 26 per cent of of the total paid-up capital in Star News with the remaining 74 per cent held by resident Indians.
While Star would not offer any confirmation on who the Indian stakeholders were, reliable industry sources have thrown up the following names: Kumarmangalam Birla, chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, in his personal capacity, Suhail Seth, regular Page 3 face and CEO of Equus Red Cell advertising firm, Vir Sanghvi, television personality and editor of the Hindustan Times, Rian Karanjiwala, the Delhi-based legal advisor to the Star Group, Balaji Telefilms chairman Jeetendra Kapoor and the head of a financial institution in his personal capacity.
Two names have cropped up regarding the last mentioned equity holder. It could be either Hemendra Kothari of DSP Merill Lynch, the FII that was mandated by Star to structure the Star News deal and find Indian partners, or Uday Kotak of Kotak Mahindra. Interestingly, a name that was earlier doing the rounds, Sunil Alagh, the controversial former head of bakery and dairy products major Britannia Industries Ltd, is missing from the list of would-be Indian partners. Replacing him as the seventh equity holder is his wife, television actress Maya Alagh.
As per the information available with indiantelevision.com, Birla holds a 25 per cent share in the Star News venture. Although that means that Birla holds just 1 per cent lesser shareholding than Star, the Rupert Murdoch company still holds the controlling stake. This is because veto power on decisions is possible only if the equity is 26 per cent and above.
At the time of posting this report, the shareholding pattern of the other six Indian partners was not known with any degree of certainty by indiantelevision.com.
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.
