News Broadcasting
ABP Ananda successfully concludes 9th edition of its marquee food festival ‘Khaibaar Paas’
Mumbai: ABP Ananda, Bengal’s leading news channel, has successfully concluded the ninth edition of its four-day annual food festival ‘Khaibaar Paas.’ The event was organised from 26 to 29 January, at EEDF Ground, Kolkata. A confluence of food and culture, this event holds immense significance in Kolkata and is highly anticipated by the locals. Like every year, it grabbed the attention of thousands of enthusiastic and excited Bengali food lovers who gathered in huge numbers to share their love for food.
In ABP Ananda’s ‘Khaibaar Paas,’ the foodies were tucked into a range of different cuisines including Mughlai, Chinese, Bengali, exotic seafood, sweets, street food, continental, Lebanese, and other varieties of snacks. More than 50 restaurants participated in the event who set up their food stalls to display their exquisite recipes and impeccable taste. The influencers and foodies cherished the festival and relished tasting culinary dishes along with creating brand visibility and promoting these renowned restaurants and food outlets in Bengal. Furthermore, to make ‘Khaibaar Paas’ a one-of-a-kind food event many fun and engaging activities were carried out by influencers, bloggers, and participating restaurants.
Due to the great relevance of the event amongst Bengal’s foodies and food business owners, hundreds of business enterprises shared rich traditional, and contemporary takes on Bengali cuisine. The event also provided a great platform for sponsors and partners to display their offerings to larger audiences.
ABP Ananda’s ‘Khaibaar Paas 2023’ was presented by eminent sponsors which included Wild Stone, Dear Govt. Lotteries, Jaya Biscuits, Suman Kacchi Ghani Mustard Oil & Catch Masala. The event was powered by – Proreal Entertainment, partnered with Pran Toast, Wagh Bakri Chai, Mukhorochak, Saha Textile, Alliance Broadband and Mysore Sandal Soap, while its digital partner was ABP Live.
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.
