News Broadcasting
Trai price freeze upped payouts by cable ops: Jawahar Goel
MUMBAI: The payouts of smaller cable networks towards pay channels have been going up. And this is despite the price freeze on subscription rates imposed by the broadcast regulator says Essel Group additional vice chairman and head of SitiCable Jawahar Goel.
“As a multi system operator (MSO) model, the price freeze (ordered by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India – Trai) has helped. But for smaller networks the payout has gone up,” Goel says.
Trai had frozen pay channel rates but had allowed broadcasters to ask for increase in subscriber declarations from cable operators.
“If I were to draw an analogy, the Trai regulation is like you can’t increase the rates of bananas in kilos but in dozens,” says Goel, taking a dig at the broadcast regulator.
There is a flaw in the tariff control system as there is no uniform price for consumers. This technically can be challenged in the court by subscribers, asserts Goel.
Broadcasters have also divided MSOs to increase their revenue growth from subscription. “In certain cities, they have done minimum guarantee deals with an MSO. In Hyderabad, for instance, Star and Sony have joined hands and given the distribution to Hathway,” says Goel. An attempt to have a similar kind of arrangement with RPG network in Kolkata was thwarted as the state government intervened, he avers.
In the cable TV distribution business, there is no fair play. “Here might is right. There is no ground rule,” says Goel.
But the head of Siticable is optimistic. “A distribution margin system will evolve across the three value chains – MSOs, broadcasters and last mile cable operators. This is bound to happen even in a non-CAS (conditional access system) situation.”
Is it necessary to lift the price freeze? “It has to come with some regulations. There has to be discipline in the broadcasting and distribution business,” says Goel.
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.
