News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 launches ‘Face-Off at 9’ & Viewpoint, more new shows in two weeks
MUMBAI: Continuing with the legacy of setting new benchmarks in television news, CNN-News18 presents an all new prime time which promises to deliver insightful journalism and provide viewers with a platform to voice their concerns and viewpoints. The channel will go live with two shows tonight starting 9pm with Face-Off At 9 and Viewpoint at 10pm. Anchored by award-winning journalists — deputy executive editor Zakka Jacob and executive editor Bhupendra Chaubey, the shows will build further on the channel’s positioning of On Your Side.
Apart from these two shows, CNN-News18 has also lined up several shows that will be launched in a phased manner over the next couple of weeks.
Conceptualised to provide a fresh approach to news, the two shows with enhanced audience engagement, fresh packaging and even more incisive content aim to add multiple dimensions to the primetime news.
Face-Off At 9 will witness a face-off between the biggest newsmakers on the top story of the day to bring out key insights on the same without drowning the same out in unnecessary noise. The show will capture various facets of the story to help viewers to form their own informed opinions. Viewpoint – an interactive and participative show will explore various views on the day’s top news stories that will endeavour to disrupt the standard formats seen on news television.
The show will cover the top five stories of the day and feature discussions with guests on the same. The show will also connect with viewers through social media and on-ground different locations to bring the people’s viewpoint to the debate and will continue to map their sentiments till the end and will bring out the truth, driven by facts and not by any agenda.
CNN-News18 managing editor Radhakrishnan Nair said, “We have always pushed the envelope in bringing our viewers differentiated content and formats. The new shows that we are launching are a reflection of our viewers’ expectations from us to continue to raise the quality of the news content that we offer – especially in terms of the credibility and substance of the debates and in-studio discussions that form the mainstay of prime time news television today.”
News Broadcasting
GenNext takes charge as Network18 reshuffles leadership
With Avinash Kaul bowing out, Network18 hands reins to younger leaders, streamlines operations, and pushes data-driven growth across TV, digital and regional markets
MUMBAI: Network18 is redrawing its leadership map just as a long-time lieutenant bows out. Avinash Kaul, a central figure in the broadcaster’s rise since 2014, is leaving after 12 years to pursue “professional and personal goals”, triggering a broad-based reshuffle that puts a younger cohort directly under the top brass.
Kaul joined at a pivotal moment during the company’s transition and went on to scale the television business, combining strategic nous with data-led decision-making and a sharp read of the news landscape. “Avinash has been an integral part of the Network18 story,” the company said, thanking him for his leadership of the broadcast business and wishing him the best for the future.
In his wake, Network18 is betting on what it calls a “young and restless” leadership bench. “The team has taken charge and proved its mettle in quite adverse circumstances,” the note said, adding that “GenNext has seamlessly stepped in as we continue to outperform our peers.”
Operationally, the structure is being flattened. Smriti Mehra, S Shivakumar and Mitul Sangani will work directly with the top leadership, as they did in the fourth quarter. Ganesh Iyer and Abhinay Chauhan continue in their existing roles, while younger executives are being handed wider mandates across social, digital, connected TV and linear.
The reporting lines are being tightened to drive revenue and product momentum. Prabhat Chatterjee, business head–Forbes, and Arun Thapar, president–content and communication for AETN-18, will report to Smriti Mehra, alongside Mallika Nath Handa, who will lead special projects spanning new shows and non-linear properties. Jayesh Gokalgandhi, CFO for AETN-18, will report to Ramesh Damani.
Mitul Sangani will oversee expansion in Hindi and regional markets, with Sidharth Newatia, CRO–ILC, focusing on reach and revenue growth, particularly in tier-II and III markets. Pankaj Soni, head of marketing–ILC, will also report to Sangani while working functionally with Ganesh Iyer.
The group is also consolidating its branded content play. Moneycontrol’s branded content business will be folded into News18 Studio, with Don Zarrar moving to work with Shivakumar while continuing to lead existing studio and Focus teams.
International and platform growth are being bundled together. Pranav Bakshi takes on additional charge of the international business alongside connected TV and social platforms, with Naveen Mathur, who leads revenue management for the international unit, reporting to him. Bakshi continues to report to Puneet Singhvi.
On the technology and operations side, Rajesh Sharma, head of broadcast technology and IT; Rahul Singh, head of events and technical operations; and Bhupender Bhardwaj, head of IT security, will now report to Singhvi. Darshil Parekh, head of sales strategy, planning and operations, will work directly with Ramesh Damani and the top leadership, with Stanley Cyril, who manages digital sales operations, reporting to him.
Data is being pushed to the centre of decision-making. Jitamitra Mohanty, who leads research and analytics, will now work with Santosh Menon to turn audience data into “actionable insights that drive content strategy, product innovation and sustainable viewership growth”.
The message is clear: fewer layers, faster calls, sharper bets. With Kaul’s exit closing one chapter, Network18 is handing the wheel to a younger crew and doubling down on scale across screens. The race, it signals, will be run at full tilt.
