News Broadcasting
Hallmark in programming push; appoints acquisitions head
The Hallmark Channel is making a thrust into expanding its programming library. The network has appointed Kirstine Layfield to the newly-created position of senior vice president, programming. Layfield joins the Hallmark Channel from the Toronto-based cable and satellite channel Trio Television, where for the last four years she served as its general manager and vice president of programming. The announcement was made today by Russ Givens, president and chief executive officer of Crown Media International.
Layfield’s prime responsibility will be to strategically identify and acquire top programming on an international basis for the Hallmark Channel. She will be based in the Hallmark Channel’s Denver headquarters, will report directly to Givens and work closely with the managing directors of the Hallmark Channel’s Asian, European and Latin American and operations on program acquisitions.
Givens also disclosed that the Hallmark Channel has acquired a number of high-profile series for many of its territories to further diversify its lineups worldwide. The award-winning family drama Touched by an Angel, with Roma Downey and Della Reese, has been acquired for the Hallmark Channel’s Asia channels while producer Steven Bochco’s police series Brooklyn South has been acquired to air on the Hallmark Channel in Spain, Portugal, Israel, Russia, the Middle East and Asia.
In Israel, Russia and the Middle East, the channel’s subscribers will be able to watch the Gerald McRaney dramaPromised Land, which has also been acquired to air in Australia. For its Spain and Portugal feeds, the Hallmark Channel has acquired the new critically acclaimed drama Judging Amy, starring Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly, and City of Angels, the medical drama featuring Blair Underwood and Michael Warren.
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.
