News Broadcasting
Balaji results reflect company’s healthy growth
MUMBAI: Balaji Telefilms continued its prosperous streak with a net profit of Rs 126.8 million for Q1 2002-3. This marks a 157 per cent increase over profits of Rs 49.4 million announced for the same period last year.
The company’s net sales moved up to Rs 397.7 million from Rs 236.6 million for Q1 2001-2, marking a growth of 21 per cent on the back of increase in programming hours and higher realizations per hour.
Balaji’s fresh programming hours increased from 355.50 in Q4FY02 to 391.50 in Q1FY03, a sequential growth of 10.13 per cent. Balaji’s ratio of Hindi to regional programming has also undergone a slight change over the last quarter. While Hindi programming has gone up to 261.5 hours from 221 hours in Q4FY02, regional programming hours have gone down marginally to 130 hours from 134.5 hours in Q4FY02. The company charged depreciation on sets and studios at a rate higher than that prescribed under Companies Act, resulting in profit for the quarter being lower by Rs. 5.83 million.
The company also announced that it had revised rates for Kkusum and Kutumb Sony Entertainment’s hit shows; a daily soap is scheduled to start soon on Sahara as are a weekend thriller series on Sony and another weekly show on Star.
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.
