News Broadcasting
Taj TV bags Pakistan cricket rights
MUMBAI: It was always on the cards but now it’s official. Taj Television (parent company of Ten Sports) has secured the telecast rights for all cricket to be played in Pakistan for the next five years.
The deal signed between the Pakistan Cricket board (PCB) and Taj TV gives the broadcaster promoted by Sharjah’s Abdurrahman Bukhatir the rights to all international matches hosted by the PCB for five years from April 2003 till the end of 2008 for a reported $42.6 million.
Under its current deal with TWI, the PCB receives about $11 million, and TWI bid offered a minimum of $30 million to retain the rights. Taj TV won in a bidding process that attracted interest from six groups.
With the sewing up of this deal, Taj now has the telecast rights for Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sharjah and Morocco.
The telecast begins with (in theory) India’s scheduled tour of Pakistan in April. Of course, there’s next to no chance of that happening. With India’s non-participation a foregone conclusion, the PCB has reportedly invited both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe to tour Pakistan.
The next telecast after that will be when Bangladesh tours Pakistan in September followed by South Africa in October.
Ten Sports broadcasts in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
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.
