News Broadcasting
Bad news dogs Mi Marathi journos: work without pay
MUMBAI: There’s some amount of chaos reigning in the office of the 24 hour Marathi news channel Mi Marathi. With owner Mahesh Motewar – who acquired it from HDIL in 2012 – cooling his heels behind bars since December 2015, it’s bound to be. A cash crunch has forced it to stop churning out original news programming and run archival content.
Moreover, on 20 March 2016, Mi Marathi’s senior managers called a meeting at which reporters and editors were informed that they would have work without pay until further notice.
A senior reporter present at the meeting told Indiantelevision.com, “We were shocked when the announcement was made. We were asked to raise our hands if we were okay to work without being paid. Only three hands went up.”
Another senior official informed us on condition of anonymity, “The salaries have been delayed for a long time now. Three days back all the staff got their January pay, while their emoluments for February are still due. There is a crisis at our parent company, but the irony is revenue wise we are doing good. ABP and Zee are the only ones above us. I just hope the company can resolve its issues soon or it may be on course to shut down.”
Another senior journo disclosed that he has been calling his friends in other news channels and newspapers to hire some of the mid and junior level reporters from Mi Marathi. He further clarified: “A large chunk of the employees has already moved on. The way it is functioning; I don’t see the channel running for long. We senior guys get the salary last. We ensure that the younger reporters and editors get their wages first as they are the one’s most needing them.”
However, Mi Marathi managing editor Tulsidas Bhoite was pretty emphatic that the channel would continue and there was no question of shuttering it. “Yes there are certain issues but there is no shutting down. Yes we have stopped our bulletins but that is because of some technical issues,” he said. “The reporters are there and we will resume our original programming again in a week or two.”
Observers say it will require a miracle of sorts to turn things around. Motewar is reportedly currently lodged in Yerwada jail after being found guilty of allegedly defrauding investors through a chit-fund scam under Prosperity Agro or Samruddha Jeevan. Motewar is allegedly politically well connected hence his broadcast venture could find a white knight.
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.
