News Broadcasting
Narendra Modi picks ETV network for first election interview
MUMBAI: Ever since Congress vice president, Rahul Gandhi, gave his first ever television interview after making his political debut in 2004 to Times Now editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, everyone has been waiting with abated breathe which channel will BJP’s prime ministerial candidate opt for.
Finally, the wait is over as Narendra Modi has decided to go the other way and give his first election interview to a regional channel, ETV Gujarati. While the channel’s senior anchor Hari Shankar Vyas was picked to grill Modi, the interview has been conducted in Hindi rather than Gujarati, a move to reach out to a larger audience.
Shot on 27 March, the one and a half hour episode will be telecast across the ETV Network’s Gujarati news channel, Urdu channel and Hindi news channels (ETV UP/Uttarakhand, ETV MP/Chhattisgarh, ETV Bihar/Jharkhand, ETV Rajasthan) on 31 March at 8:30 pm. The network is currently exploring options to also simultaneously telecast it on the ETV GECs as well.
Other regional ETV channels such as Kannada, Marathi, Bangla and Odiya will telecast it on a later date and time, that hasn’t been fixed as yet. These will have subtitles in their respective languages.
ETV channels are now under Network18 in which Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is a shareholder. Network18’s other news channels such as CNN-IBN and IBN7 will also air the interview.
The promos for the interview will start airing by 7:00 pm today.
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. AICC’s Praveen Chakravarty weighs ‘Power Sharing vs Principles’, while former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joins the fray. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
