News Broadcasting
WION launches ‘World DNA’: A Prime-Time Program for Asia and USA
Mumbai: WION, India’s only international news channel, launched its new show, WORLD DNA today, where viewers can watch the world’s top news condensed into one programme. The show promises to put viewers ahead of the global curve with comprehensive and contextual content that will bring the latest news from around the globe.
As America wraps up its day and Asia wakes up to a new dawn, WION will keep viewers informed on the news that will impact their present and set an agenda for the future.
The show’s unique conversational approach will feature two anchors, Hem Kaur Saroya and Rohit Wellington, and air from Monday to Saturday at 7.30 AM IST (India, East & Southeast Asia) and 2 AM GMT. WORLD DNA will be broadcast live from WION’s state-of-the-art studio.
Stressing the relevance of the ‘WORLD DNA’ show, WION chief business officer Madhu Soman said, “With World DNA, we want to dig a bit deeper and help us and our audience understand what connects us, brings many together while driving a few others apart. The show’s twin-anchor format from our editorial epicentre in Delhi NCR, with inputs from our bureaus around the world and sectoral updates will not only capture what happened overnight in Europe and US but also set the agenda for Asia.”
“The changing market demand in terms of content consumption and revenue-generating opportunities have been assessed on a timely basis. This has helped our team to brainstorm, plan communication, and market our strategies for the U.S. and Indian markets as well. Through live news telecast and customized programming we look forward to achieving maximum stakeholders’ engagement,” said ZMCL marketing head Anindya Khare.
WION’s YouTube channel has over seven million subscribers and remains ahead of many Indian English news channels in terms of monthly viewership on digital platforms. With a presence in over 190 countries, WION is an English global news brand that focuses on delivering news from an Indian perspective.
Zee Media Corporation Ltd, one of India’s leading media and entertainment companies, has a strong presence in the news and regional entertainment genres, with 13 news channels in seven different languages, reaching more than 528 million viewers through its linear and digital properties.
For more information about WION and WORLD DNA, visit their website at www.WIONews.com.
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.
