News Broadcasting
Aaj Tak, Headlines Today in US via Dish Network
MUMBAI: Targeting the Indian diaspora in the US, the Aroon Purie promoted — TV Today Network officially kicked off its Hindi news channel Aaj Tak and English news channel Headlines Today on 1 December at New York’s bustling Nasdaq marketsite.
This October, TV Today, had tied up with EchoStar’s Dish Network, a leading satellite service provider for South Asian programming in the US. The network runs three channels in India-Aaj Tak,Headlines Today and Tez.
Aaj Tak, which launched in India in 2000, is being offered as pay-channel in overseas markets, even though it is a free-to-air service in India, English news channel — Headlines Today, launched in 2003, which has been modelled to suit the viewing habits of English-speaking viewers and Hindi news channel — Tez, which launched this year in the month of August, has been designed to focus to provide headlines news in Hindi.
In a rare interview to Indiantelevision.com in February 2004, when quizzed about plans for making international forays, Purie said, “Aaj Tak is already available on a pay platform in the Middle East. We would consider going into the US and the UK markets with Aaj Tak or a combination of both the news channels. We are looking into the economics of transponder costs and as soon as the costs reach a level that would make good business sense for us, we’d consider tapping other markets.”
The Indian news channels also present catering to the Indian disapora, includes Star News, Zee News and NDTV 24X7. Dish Network offers 117 international channels from over 25 countries in more than 28 languages, including Urdu, Tagalog, Armenian, Korean, Greek, Italian and French.
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.
