News Broadcasting
DD gears up for 3rd annual awards function on Saturday
MUMBAI: It will be an evening of song, dance and reward for hard working folk in the television industry. The third annual Doordarshan Awards will take place on 22 November in the suburb of Goregaon at the Sports Club from 6:45 pm onwards.
In all 54 trophies will be handed out. There has been an expansion this year. Five administration Awards have been added for each of the country’s zones. In the programme category there are 32 awards up for grabs. These include promo, best Kendra, animation, sports, women’s. DD has tied up with Wizcraft for the event. At a media briefing this afternoon DD Sahyadri head Mukesh Sharma noted that the surge of a more competitive work structure, an well as recognition of excellence had resulted in improvement in in-house software production.
I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will be the chief guest. Also present will be Maharshtra’s chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal. Attendeees will see performance from the likes of Shaan, Sonu Nigam, Usha Uthup, Gurdas Mann. Lending a touch of glamour to the occasion will be stars from the television and film industry such as Star India CEO Peter Mukherjea, actor Jitendra, film director Shutosh Gowarikar.
Also present at the briefing was the Prasar Bharti chairman V Kamat. When asked by Indiantelevision.com as to the manner in which DD News would be functioning he pooh poohed talk that the channel would basically be a mouth piece for the government.
“DD News is a completely independent channel. There is no external pressure whatsoever. It was set up with the purpose of functioning autonomously and that is what we are doing. In fact if you have been watching us we have done stories and news features that have criticised the government. We also cover the news better than anyone else out there and as time goes on we will continue to improve.”
The channel also put out figures that back his claim. Tam data is for 3-11 November c&s 4+ for all Hindi news channels. DD News has a cumulative reach of 22 per cent. Only Aaj Tak is ahead with 26 per cent. Star News is beind with a share of 20 per cent followed by Zee News with 19 per cent. NDTV India has a share of 18 per cent.
The story is similar for the audience shares. Once again DD News is second to Aaj Tak. It has a share of 21 per cent while Aaj Tak’s is 29 per cent. Sahara Samay is languishing at the bottom of the barrel with a share of six per cent.
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.
