News Broadcasting
Zee Biz gets government okay, targets 30 November launch
NEW DELHI: The government has finally cleared a Zee proposal to start a business news channel, which is now slated to make its formal debut on 30 November.
The clearance for the business news channel, named ZeeBiz, came last week from the information and broadcasting ministry, according to government sources.
Earlier, Zee had tried to soft-launch the business news channel on the Dish TV DTH platform, 20 per cent owned by Zee Telefilms, contending that government permission was not necessary to start channels on a DTH platform.
The move was withdrawn after I&B ministry made appropriate noises that government permission was a must for launching a news channel even on a DTH platform.
Having got the clearance, Zee Biz would kick off both on the cable and DTH platforms simultaneously as a 24-hour channel in a digitally encrypted format. The uplinking would take place from Zee News headquartered in Noida on the outskirts of Delhi.
If ZeeBiz does manage to keep its date with lady luck this time on 30 November, it would be the first off the block of a series of new launches lining up in the business news segment.
The other Hindi language business news channel being planned come from the stables of Television Eighteen, scheduled for a December launch, and NDTV. The latter’s launch date is still not clear as it was supposed to have been launched this year only.
ZeeBiz, along with the other proposed channels, are attempting to broadbase viewership by targeting the huge Indian middle class whose interest in capital markets and other aspects of business has increased with the economy doing fairly well over the last two years and general awareness.
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.
