News Broadcasting
Zee News goes in for major overhaul
MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms’ best bet against new entrants in the Hindi news arena, Zee News, is working towards adopting major restructuring strategies to improve the channel’s programme quality.
Satish Menon, who recently took the reins of Zee News, confirmed that a major revamp was under way. “We are working toward getting good people and improving the existing functioning of the channel and it is a continous process. We’ll be working towards improving the content from all aspects,” Menon says.
Zee has allied with American company Novocom to completely overhaul the graphics and design to make it more attractive. Menon was, however, tightlipped about the additional investment involved in sprucing up the channel. “I wouldn’t want to talk in terms of investments. It is too early to talk about these,” he said.
Zee is at present facing a stiff test from Aaj Tak, the 24-hour news channel launched on 31 December 2000 by media group India Today. Earlier, being the only major Hindi news channel, Zee News had a vice like grip on the TRP charts.
As per some recent news reports, a month after Aaj Tak’s launch, the channel’s viewer growth shot up nearly five times. The reports were based on a survey conducted by AC Nielsen. At the same time, the viewership of Zee and Star remained unchanged, the reports said.
With all the major players in the television industry about to turn fully pay channels, the viewership stakes can only get higher. Everyone will have to fight that much harder just to stand still.
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.
