News Broadcasting
ABP Group plans to launch 3-4 regional news channels in next 3 years
KOLKATA: After building a strong presence in Bengal and Maharashtra, and all plans firmed up for the Punjabi news channel, Kolkata-based media company, ABP Group, plans to launch three to four regional news channels in the next two to three years, in the western region followed by northern India; said ABP Group MD and CEO Dipankar Das Purkayastha. To begin with, the group is looking to launch a Gujarati news channel.
It is learnt that recruitment for the Punjabi news channel has been completed in the Chandigarh office and the company is only waiting for the up-linking license from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
“We want to become national media with multiple regional news channels. We have evaluated different regional markets and soon after the Punjabi channel launch, we would look at other regions,” Purkayastha told indiantelevision.com. He further said that the Punjabi news channel could be launched anytime and ABP was only waiting for a green signal from the authorities.
Asked about the business model for the Punjabi and regional news channels, Purkayastha said it would remain the same. “The model would be the same just like the one in Bengal and Maharashta,” he said.
Indiantelevision.com had earlier reported that the news network had plans to expand into regional languages or tier II cities as it had saturated its potential in the metros. At the time, it had identified Punjabi as the first regional language it would foray into.
Besides, part of ABP Group’s Media Content and Communication Services, ABP Anando, which had announced an 8-15 per cent hike for employees nearly nine months ago, has actually paid the hike arrears to all the personnel. “ABP announced around nine months ago and has paid all the employees the arrears. ABP Anando will play a big role during election time. Employees are happy to receive the amount, and all are willing to work hard going forward,” said an ABP insider.
About the payment of arrears, Mumbai-based KRIS Capital director Arun Kejriwal said, “Revenues are flowing and they want to retain talent. The experienced and talented are in short supply.”
ABP is the undisputed leader in eastern India with its English daily, The Telegraph, and highest-selling Bengali daily, Ananda Bazaar Patrika.
While Anandabazaar.com, the online version of Ananda Bazaar Patrika, which registers around 22 million page views per month, witnesses 30-35 per cent visitors from abroad; according to ABP vice president, Bengali Dailies Supriyo Sinha. While the ABP Group did not earlier believe in having a presence on social networking websites, it has seen around 2.83 lakh likes on its facebook page, which was created around 10 months ago.
“After studying, it was noticed that people spend around 9-10 minutes on our website. Whereas, the average time spent on other regional Bengali news portals is around 4-5 minutes. In order to retain No 1 position in Bengal, we have renewed our presentation. We have to diversify and customise the content for different target audiences,” said Sinha.
Less than two years ago, the group launched a Bengali tabloid ‘Ebela’ the circulation of which is around 4 lakh per day in West Bengal. “The circulation of Ananda Bazar Patrika is around 57 lakh in the state per day,” she added.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
