News Broadcasting
Nicktoons forays into Sci-fi with ‘Skyland
MUMBAI: Nicktoons Network, Nickelodeon’s 24-hour animation network, delves into the sci-fi realm for the first time with Skyland, an animated adventure series that will premiere Saturday 18 November at 9 pm.
The series employs the latest in animation technology by using motion capture, CGI, 2D and key frame animation to create cutting-edge television.
The premiere of Skyland will kick off with the hour-long special (that sneak-peeked globally in January) followed by an all-new, half-hour episode at 10 pm during the 3 Headed Monster programming block. Season one, which consists of 13 episodes, will air Saturdays at 9 pm on Nicktoons Network.
“Nicktoons Network continues to be the hub for animation fans to tune in and find unique, diverse and technically advanced shows like Skyland,” said, Nicktoons Network vice president and general manager Keith Dawkins. “In addition to its rich visual style and stunning imagery, Skyland is an epic, sci-fi action adventure of good verses evil — universal story lines kids have loved for ages,” he added.
Skyland, produced by Method Films and created by Emmanuel Gorin, Alexandre de la Patelliere and Matthieu Delaporte, follows a heroic brother, Mahad and his telekinetic younger sister, Lena, as they search for their parents in a new world order. The year is 2251 and the earth has been shattered into millions of blocks that now drift aimlessly in orbit around the Earth’s core known as Skyland.
The Sphere, led by a power-mad ruler with telekinetic powers named Oslo, has installed a dictatorship that controls water distribution, now a precious resource. Skyland’s young heroes along with the pirate resistance, try to free their mother from Oslo’s evil grasp and destroy the dreaded Sphere.
The hour-long special, Dawn of A New Day, introduces Mahad and Lena as they are faced with their biggest challenge yet when their mother is forced to sacrifice herself and be captured by the evil Sphere in order for her children to run to freedom.
In the premiere episode Manipulations, the sibling duo fights against the enemy when a solar phenomenon has unusual effects on Seijin powers. This allows a sect of the Sphere to take control of Dahlia, a strong member of the pirates, in effort to learn the coordinates of the pirate hideout.
Nicktoons Network offers a 24- hour schedule featuring programming such as the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival, Kappa Mikey, Thumb Wrestling Federation, Corneil and Bernie and Martin Mystery, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Jimmy Neutron.
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.
