News Broadcasting
The Guardian’ launches sports series on Channel 4 this summer
MUMBAI: The Guardian, the national morning broadsheet has decided to move into the television arena.. Its first move in the direction being moving into branded TV with the launch of a sports series on Channel 4 later this summer.
Positioned as the perfect blend of debate and reviews, The Guardian Sports Show will now be broadcast on Saturday mornings ahead of Channel 4’s coverage of The Ashes, for an initial run of six weeks starting in August.
The show will be hosted by Clive Anderson and will feature sporting commentators and celebrities discussing topical sporting issues in an irreverent way in front of a studio audience.
Produced by North One Television and the PHD subsidiary Drum Screen, and will be filmed at Channel 4’s studios. Channel 4 and The Guardian will be co-funding the series.
Apparently, The Guardian was inspired to explore branded content post a presentation given by the BSkyB chief executive, James Murdoch, and the WPP chief executive, Sir Martin Sorrell, on the potential impact of personal video recorders on spot advertising.
The show has been described by Guradian officials as “a mixture of Have I Got News for You and a serious sports programme” according to various agency reports. The programme has been formulated to alter people’s perceptions that The Times and The Daily Telegraph have superior sports sections to The Guardian.
The funding for the show is coming from the coffers of The Guardian’s marketing budget as they believe branded content is a cost-effective way of targeting the audience.
The production company North One Television is a renowned name in sports programming. The company, which is now part of the former Granada chief executive Steve Morrison’s All3Media, was formerly owned by Chrysalis. It produces ITV’s Formula 1 coverage and has worked in football, rally and bowls programming.
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.
