News Broadcasting
Hungama TV aims for August-September launch
MUMBAI: Hungama TV, the bilingual (Hindi and Tamil) kids’ channel floated by UTV, is now looking at an August-September launch. UTV CEO Ronnie Screwvala had earlier stated that the channel would begin airing by ‘a Sunday in August 2004’.
Hungama TV Captain Hunt to select the 20 kids who will eventually run the channel will culminate with a gala event in Mumbai on 14 August. Post-production work for the 21 shows selected by kids from the 60 projects, which had been commissioned for pilots, is underway. The channel will air shows on the 6 am – 12 midnight cycle with the remaining six hours having repeat telecasts.
At the venue of the channel’s TV Captain Hunt, Hungama TV COO Purnendu Bose spoke to Indiantelevision.com explaining the ideation and execution of the upcoming channel:
Programming strategy:
There will be adventure shows, puppet shows, movies, science fiction, comedy, and fantasy shows – all kinds of shows that appeal to our kids. The 60 pilot projects we had made was shown to around 7,000 kids across the country and they short listed 21 programmes. I won’t be able to give you the exact number of episodes completed, but I can say two or three episodes of each show have been canned till now. It is an ongoing process. There will be 18 hours of new programming and the remaining six hours will have these shows repeated.
Progress on the production front:
Post-production work of the episodes completed are going on now. Balaji Telefilms, Cinevistaa, Contiloe and UTV are some of the production houses involved.
Why have you decided to outsource some of your production?
We wanted to make use of a variety of sources. This gives us an opportunity to tap different domain expertise.
What is the remuneration you are offering to the 20 selected kids who will take charge as Hungama TV captains?
There won’t be any remuneration in terms of money. The whole exercise will give kids exposure and that much-needed confidence to face life. This will help them to be decisive, empowering them to build an overall character. This will be like an extra-curricular activity that makes them celebrities. This won’t distract them from their studies because we have latest technologies to communicate with them. Sitting in his house, the kid will decide what to go on Hungama TV.
About the recent exits UTV/Hungama witnessed. Who is replacing Shalini Rawla who quit as Hungama TV programming head?
At present, I am handling the additional responsibility. We have a 55 member-strong team and we are looking forward to more appointments. Irrespective of these resignations, we are very much on track.
News Broadcasting
India Today Group debuts AI anchor ‘Sutra’ at AI Impact Summit 2026
Sutra aims to simplify live policy debates using sovereign AI models
NEW DELHI: India Today Group has unveiled Sutra, an AI-driven news anchor designed to deliver real-time, contextual reporting, marking the group’s latest push to integrate artificial intelligence into mainstream journalism.
The AI anchor was introduced at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi and developed in collaboration with BharatGen, with the initiative showcased by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
India Today Group said Sutra is built to navigate complex policy discussions and fast-moving developments by synthesising information into concise, accessible insights, aimed at narrowing the gap between high-level debates and public understanding. The AI anchor was used to surface live takeaways from key sessions at the summit.
India Today Group chief AI officer Nilanjan Das, said the project was focused on clarity and accessibility without diluting editorial rigour. He added that working with BharatGen aligned the group’s AI ambitions with India’s broader push towards sovereign technology capabilities.
BharatGen CEO Rishi Bal, said the partnership reflected a shift from basic automation towards deeper contextual intelligence in media. He emphasised the importance of indigenous, multimodal AI models capable of understanding Indian languages, regional dialects and cultural nuance, particularly as AI-driven news formats gain traction.
The launch positions India Today Group among the first major Indian media houses to deploy an AI anchor backed by home-grown technology, underscoring a growing convergence between journalism, public policy and sovereign AI infrastructure.
