News Broadcasting
Unity Group to launch Hindi news channel
MUMBAI: Unity Group, a part of Softline Media and Rasthtriya Outdoor Advertising, is all set to launch two channels this fiscal.
The company will launch a Hindi news channel, Unity News, and a Hindi agricultural channel called Hariyali, says a source close to the development.
“We have obtained license from the government for both the channels. The dry run for Hariyali will start in mid-September, while Unity News will commence in January,” confirms the source.
Hariyali will be headed by Rakesh Sharma, who was earlier with Jain TV. The channel will extensively cover agriculture in India with a mixture of education and information as its programming mix. The content on the channel will lay a special emphasis on issues like agriculture, health, community building, kisan chaupal (farmers discussion), self-employment schemes and women.
Rashtriya Outdoor Advertising earlier owned the religious channel Sadhna, which was later acquired by Triveni Group. As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, the Triveni Group will re-launch the religious channel.
News Broadcasting
Parikshit Luthra exits CNBC-TV18 after 20-year run
Former bureau chief to take brief pause before next role
NEW DELHI: Senior journalist Parikshit Luthra has signed off from CNBC-TV18, marking 28 February 2026 as his final day and closing nearly two decades with Network18 Media & Investments Limited, including eight years at the business news channel.
During his tenure, Luthra interviewed prominent business leaders and Union ministers, reporting on economic policy, corporate strategy, the automobile sector and financial markets. His coverage spanned key inflection points in India’s economic narrative.
He also led new programming formats such as Newscentre, Global Eye and Global Lens, shows that examined politics and foreign policy through an economic prism, reflecting the channel’s push towards globally linked business reporting.
In a LinkedIn post, Luthra said his final weeks were spent covering the Union Budget, the India AI Summit, India’s trade agreements with the US and EU, and the group’s flagship Rising Bharat Summit 2026. He added that he continued anchoring until his last day and briefly met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his closing assignments.
Luthra joined CNBC-TV18 in June 2018 as assistant editor, later rising to senior editor and chief of bureau, a position he held for over two years. Before that, he worked with Republic TV and CNN-News18.
He said he plans to take a short break before embarking on his next professional chapter.
