News Broadcasting
Balaji’s Q2 net falls 21 % to Rs 113 million
MUMBAI: Balaji Telefilms’ net profit fell 21 per cent to Rs 112.83 million for the quarter ended 30 September 2004, from Rs 142.34 million a year ago.
Total income increased to Rs 467.76 million, up from Rs 435.16 million.
Balaji’s board, which met on 16 October, decided not to declare interim dividend until there is reasonable certainty in relation to the receipt of regulatory approvals for the proposed investment in the company by Asian Broadcasting FZ LLC (a Star affiliate). This is to ensure that Balaji has adequate funds available for its capital requirements and expansion plans, after declaring an interim dividend.
Asian Broadcasting had agreed to pay Rs 1.23 billion for 21 per cent stake in Balaji Telefilms and would have the option to hike it up to 26 per cent through an open offer.
When there is reasonable certainty, the Balaji board will convene another meeting to consider an interim dividend of Rs 16 per equity share of the Company. The record date for declaration of interim dividend, if any, shall be determined with a view to ensure that a) such dividend does not accrue to Asian Broadcasting and b) the public shareholders tendering their shares pursuant to the open offer by Asian Broadcasting would receive such interim dividend.
News Broadcasting
Times Network to air JVC Exit Poll across 5 regions on April 29
Four-hour broadcast spans states and Puducherry with data-led analysis
MUMBAI: Times Network is set to roll out what it calls one of its most expansive election programming efforts yet, culminating in the JVC Exit Poll on 29 April, with a multi-hour broadcast spanning key poll-bound regions.
The exit poll will air across Times Now and Times Now Navbharat, beginning at 5pm and 4pm respectively. Co-powered by Vedanta and Jindal Stainless, the programming aims to combine on-ground reportage with data-driven projections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
The network has deployed over 50 journalists across these regions, gathering voter sentiment and local insights in the run-up to polling. The effort builds on its ongoing election formats such as Election Yatra and Election Premier League, which have tracked campaign narratives and community-level issues.
In parallel, Times Now Navbharat has focused on constituency-level reporting in West Bengal through its Jan Gan ka Mann series, capturing voter opinions across diverse segments.
The coverage has also featured interviews with prominent political leaders. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala and V D Satheesan have appeared on the network’s election specials. From Tamil Nadu, voices including deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, BJP leader K Annamalai and NTK’s Seeman have also featured in discussions.
On the day of the exit poll, the network’s primetime anchors, including Navika Kumar, Zakka Jacob and Sumit Awasthi, will lead the coverage. They will be joined by a panel of political analysts, psephologists and senior journalists offering real-time insights and interpretation of trends.
The programming will integrate grassroots reportage with analytics from the JVC Exit Poll, aiming to give viewers an early sense of electoral outcomes ahead of the official results on 4 May.
With its combined English and Hindi broadcast reach, Times Network is positioning this effort as a comprehensive look at voter sentiment, blending field reporting, data and debate to decode what could lie ahead when the final mandate is revealed.
