News Broadcasting
ABP Ananda’s ‘Sera Bangali’ celebrates 19 years of recognising talent
Mumbai: India’s leading Bengali news channel, ABP Ananda, concluded its illustrious flagship event, ‘Sera Bangali 2023,’ with tremendous success. The event, which spotlighted and celebrated the remarkable achievements of nine outstanding personalities from Bengal, showcased the pinnacle of excellence across diverse fields such as literature, science, film, music, business, sports, and industry. Throughout the event’s proceedings, the stage pulsated with the vibrancy of Bengal’s unparalleled talent and cultural richness.
The recipients of the esteemed 2023 Sera Bengali Award, each a luminary in their respective fields, were honoured for their significant contributions:
- Chanchal Chowdhury – acting
- Iman Chakraborty – music
- Masud Ahmad – literature
- Anjan Chatterjee – business
- Subrata Chowdhury – art
- Ayhika Mukherjee & Sutirtha Mukherjee – sports
- Dhritiman Chatterji – lifetime achievement
- Debojyoti Dhar – serar sera
Reflecting on the cultural significance of the event, ABP Network CEO Avinash Pandey expressed his pride, stating, “Sera Bangali stands as an epitome of Bengal’s cultural richness, highlighting the extraordinary contributions made by the finest minds and talents of the region. ABP Ananda feels privileged to curate this platform, not just to honour these luminaries but to ignite a spark in the upcoming generation, encouraging them to reach for brilliance in their chosen endeavours.”
Keeping the legacy of the event alive and celebrating Bengal’s excellence, ABP Network Sr VP Suman De added, “Sera Bangali marks another milestone in our commitment to recognising and acknowledging the unparalleled achievements of Bengali personalities. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the awardees for their outstanding accomplishments.”
The event highlighted the diverse, yet interconnected tapestry of accomplishments woven by these personalities, resonating deeply with the ethos and identity of the region. Another highlight from the evening was Shreya Ghoshal’s scintillating performance at the event.
The event, presented by Bandhan Bank, Anmol Biscuits, and Dabur Chyawanprash, along with the support of co-powered by sponsors – Sahababur Adi Dhakeshwari, Shalimar Chef Spices, Dear Government Lotteries, and Senco Gold & Diamonds, in partnership with Salical, Alteus, Mio Amore, Mehai LED, Sparx, and ZED Black Premium Agarbatti, showcased the liveliness and talent Bengal has to offer on a global stage. The Digital partner was ABP Live.
The repeat telecast of this prestigious event will air on 9 December and 16 December 2023 at 10 pm exclusively on ABP Ananda.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to air live counting day coverage for five state election results on May 4
The channel is rolling out its biggest election coverage machinery yet for results day on 4th May
NOIDA: The votes have been cast. Now comes the reckoning. CNN-News18 is pulling out all the stops for results day on 4th May, when counting begins across five battleground states — West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry — in what promises to be one of the most closely watched electoral verdicts in recent memory.
The channel’s coverage, titled Battle for the States: The Verdict, kicks off at 7am and runs through the day across linear TV, connected television and YouTube. It is the culmination of CNN-News18’s multi-format editorial initiative, Battle for the States, which has tracked the polls from the beginning under the theme Road to Power.
At the operational heart of the coverage will be the Live Results Hub, the channel’s central command centre built to collate, verify and process real-time data flowing in from reporters stationed at counting centres across constituencies. The hub combines newsroom intelligence, analytics and on-the-ground reporting to deliver what the channel promises will be the fastest and most accurate results coverage in English news.
Leading the on-air charge will be primetime anchors Rahul Shivshankar, Anand Narasimhan, Aman Sharma, Nabila Jamal and Shivani Gupta. They will be joined by a wide panel of commentators including author Chetan Bhagat; GVL Narasimha Rao, senior leader of the BJP; Smita Prakash, editor of ANI; activist Saira Shah Halim; political analyst Sumanth C Raman; Abhijit Iyer Mitra, senior fellow at IPCS; Amitabh Tiwari, founder of VoteVibe; columnist Abhijit Majumdar; Nalin Mehta, managing editor of MoneyControl; political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla; senior journalist Subir Bhaumik; and political analyst Manojit Mandal.
Shivshankar, who serves as editorial affairs director at CNN-News18, set out the stakes plainly. “Counting day is one of the most watched events in the electoral cycle, where speed and credibility are tested in real time,” he said. “Battle for the States: The Verdict is built on that promise, combining ground reporting, sharp analysis and cutting-edge election technology to give viewers the clearest and fastest route to the verdict. On May 4, CNN-News18 will once again be the nation’s most trusted channel to witness democracy in action.”
Smriti Mehra, chief executive of English and Business News at Network18, framed the coverage in broader terms. “Elections are defining national events, and audiences turn to brands they trust in moments that matter,” she said. “CNN-News18 has consistently led from the front in every election coverage, and this special programming reflects the scale of our ambition and editorial strength.”
The channel has form here. It claims to have been India’s most preferred English news destination for election results for the past 20 years, covering everything from the 2024 general elections to the Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar and BMC polls on the back of what it calls an “Always First, Always Right” record. Five states, one day, and a nation waiting for answers. The clock starts at 7am on 4th May.
