News Broadcasting
BBC Magazines to launch girls’ lifestyle magazine ‘Amy’
MUMBAI: BBC Magazines in the UK will add to its pre-teen portfolio of titles when it launches Amy, a lifestyle magazine for 5-8 year old girls next month.
With lots to read and do, Amy will feature many popular CBBC brands including Tracey Beaker, Blue Peter, Smart and Really Wild Show and will be designed to provide interactive activities and entertainment for young girls.
With CBBC content at it core, Amy will also feature a range of other topics, including film, arts and crafts, stories, puzzles, dancing and quizzes. The 32-page magazine will be published every three weeks, with each issue carrying a high quality cover mounted gift as well as featuring competitions with prizes.
BBC further says that a strong colour palette with familiar icons and fonts will give the magazine a distinct identity. Extensive research with parents and children in the pre-teen age group showed there was a strong opportunity to develop a magazine for 5-8 year olds, with a different positioning to existing magazines in the market. Amy has been designed to combine the world of young childhood play, whilst acknowledging the needs of maturing pre-teens.
BBC Magazines youth and children MD Toni Round says: “With only one other title in the market for this age group, our research showed there was a real need for a new magazine for this transitional group. During this period, 5-8 year old girls are discovering more about the world around them and learning new skills, particularly reading.
“Amy will help them develop these skills, with content that is designed specifically for them. We know that they have grown out of the pre-school titles in the market but are still very much little girls who are not yet ready for older magazines like Girl Talk. Amy will give them ‘their own’ magazine that reflects their world.
“During research, a magazine concept fulfilling these needs received an incredibly positive response and was heavily endorsed by mums, as well as girls. As with all our Youth and Children’s magazines, we will ensure that readers get the most out of Amy in terms of fun, learning, and stimulating activities to sustain their interest and also satisfy mum’s needs.”
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.
