News Broadcasting
Tech-driven TV piracy rampant: report
MUMBAI: Guess whom the huge US television networks are most at risk from? None other than their fans.
As fans increasingly turn towards downloaded video content from the file sharing peer-to-peer networks it’s the huge TV networks that are taking a beating.
A report released by the US-based media services company Mangla Global reveals that consumers’ use of peer-to-peer has recently increased over a period of time.
And those who are most affected by this trend are US TV networks. As the US shows are aired in countries like UK after months of their original telecast, fans bypass the delay by watching the pirated versions downloaded through peer-to-peer networks like BitTorrent.
A three-fold rise in the downloads of the popular TV show 24 on BitTorrent networks bears out the findings of the report. The downloads showed an increase from an average of 35,000 per episode in the 2003-2004 season to 95,000 for the 2004-2005 season.
Quoting a February survey by the UK-based peer-to-peer traffic monitoring company Envisional, the report lists out the 10 most popular pirated TV downloads worldwide as — 24, Stargate Atlantis, The Simpsons, Enterprise, Stargate SG-1, The O.C., Smallville, Desperate Housewives, Battlestar Galactica, and Lost.
BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer protocol designed to transfer files. Users connect directly to send and receive portions of a file, while a central tracker coordinates the action of all peers and manages connections without knowledge of the contents of the files being distributed.
With the new technology-driven trend gaining popularity, marketers happen to be one worried lot. This is because TV shows available on peer-to-peer networks are commercial-free. But Magna Global vice-president, director of industry analysis Brian Wieser still feels that advertisers will be able to turnaround things by reaching consumers who use file-sharing networks.
One suggestion is to spread branded entertainment, virally, throughout the networks. Marketers can also take up distribution of individual songs or videos through a website.
The report criticises the entertainment industry’s defence-oriented stance in taking on the technology. It points out that tactics like placing decoy copies of programmes and lawsuits can only delay the inevitable.
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.
