News Broadcasting
Prasar Bharati and NMA Egypt join hands for TV and radio programmes
Mumbai: India and Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday to facilitate content exchange, capacity building, and co-productions between Prasar Bharati and the National Media Authority of Egypt. The MoU was signed by the minister of information and broadcasting Anurag Thakur and Egypt’s foreign affairs minister Sameh Hassan Shoukry. The MoUs were exchanged between the two countries in the presence of the prime minister of India and the president of Egypt following the delegation-level talks between the two sides at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
The MoU is part of the efforts by Prasar Bharati to expand the reach of the DD India channel to showcase the country’s progress through programmes focused on the economy, technology, social development and also the country’s rich cultural heritage. Under the ambit of this MoU, both the broadcasters will exchange their programmes of different genres, like sports, news, culture, entertainment, and many more, on a bilateral basis, and these programmes will be telecast on their radio and television platforms. The MoU, which will be valid for three years, will also facilitate co-productions and training of the officials of both broadcasters in the latest technologies.
Prasar Bharati, the public service broadcaster of India currently has 39 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with foreign broadcasters for cooperation and collaboration in the field of broadcasting. These MoUs provide for exchange of programmes with foreign broadcasters in the field of culture, education, science, entertainment, sports, news etc. The MoUs also provide for co-production opportunities related to themes of mutual interest and knowledge sharing through training.
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.
