News Broadcasting
Leading global intellectual Fareed Zakaria hails IPL innovation on JioCinema
Mumbai: Fareed Zakaria, the host of CNN’s show Fareed Zakaria GPS, recently visited India. He shared his observations from his trip with CNN-News18 managing editor Zakka Jacob. Speaking on India’s progress in the past few years, Zakaria hailed the digital revolution driven by Jio in the country.
Zakaria lauded India’s growth, singling out three key ongoing revolutions driving the country forward: AADHAR, Jio, and physical infrastructure capabilities.
Elaborating on the Jio revolution, he said, “Earlier, the number of Indians connected to the internet was astonishingly low because broadband fiber, laying of cable lines in India was very difficult. Jio completely leapfrogged this by connecting Indians to the internet via 4G and cheap smartphones at very low prices. And so, India went from 121st on data usage, to now being No.1 and it’s larger than No.2 China and No.3 USA put together.”
Commending Mukesh Ambani’s vision, ambition and execution, Zakaria added, “Jio is a 40 plus billion dollar bet, largest bet and largest investment ever made by an Indian private sector company and it paid off. If you look at the IPL numbers, they are extraordinary and the sophistication with which IPL is being transmitted – with 6 camera angles, 14 languages – is innovative by global standards.”
Zakaria hailed Jio as a shining example of India’s potential to lead the world in technology and innovation.
Jio’s free streaming of the TATA IPL 2023 has garnered a record-breaking number of views, while JioCinema has registered the highest number of app installations ever recorded.
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.
