News Broadcasting
‘Will & Grace’ series finale available on DVD soon
MUMBAI: An independent film entertainment studio Lionsgate and NBC Universal Television Distribution, will release a DVD of the Will & Grace Series Finale, twelve days after its premiere on 18 May 2006.
It will be available from 30 May for the retail price of $9.98.
Currently in its eighth season, the Will & Grace Series Finale DVD will contain special features including cast and crew interviews and a behind the scenes featurette produced exclusively for this release. The featurette and interviews will be filmed during the last weeks of production, following the cast from their first table-read of the script, through rehearsals and the final taping of the show.
Starring Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes, Will & Grace averaged a 4.5 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49 and 10.0 million viewers overall, during the 2004-2005 television season.
“The final episode of Will and Grace marks the end of an era,” said Lionsgate president Steve Beeks. “While the show’s success can be measured in so many ways – awards, ratings, longevity, acclaim – it is really about the ability of the viewers to identify and relate to the characters that made us want to tune in each week. We are well aware that this final episode will become an instant must-have piece of television history, and we jumped at the opportunity to be able to bring it to DVD so soon after its television airing.”
To date, Will & Grace has been nominated for 73 Emmys, 27 Golden Globes, 17 SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Awards and 12 People’s Choice Awards. Among its fourteen Emmy wins, in 2000, the show won for outstanding comedy series. In 2002 and 2003, it had more Emmy nominations than any other comedy series.
Plus, in 2005 Will & Grace was tied as one of the most-nominated series and also scored its highest number of Emmy nominations in a single year with 15.
Will & Grace has also won eight GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) media awards, two TV guide awards and one directors guild award. Additionally, the show has been nominated for six American comedy awards, seven television critics association awards and five producers guild awards.
The Chicago Tribune declared, “The show has always been funny, often as laugh-out-loud funny as anything else seen on TV.”
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
