News Broadcasting
BBC America is co-producing TV drama ‘Sharpe’s Challenge’ in India
MUMBAI: BBC America and Picture Palace Productions will co-produce the two part television miniseries Sharpe’s Challenge which will star Sean Bean who played the villain in the Bond film Goldeneye. The miniseries will be shot in India in Rajasthan from 3 November 2005 till Christmas and tells a story set during the time of the British Raj.
Written by Russell Lewis and produced by Malcolm Craddock and Muir Sutherland, Sharpe’s Challenge sees Sean Bean reprising his role as the swashbuckling hero. This is a prequel to the television series which had a succesful run in the UK on ITV and other territories in the 1990’s. In the story of the new project a year after Wellington crushes Napoleon at Waterloo, dispatches from India tell of a local Maharaja who is threatening British interests there. Wellington sends Sharpe to investigate on what turns out to be his most dangerous mission to date.
When a general’s daughter is kidnapped by an Indian warlord, the tension mounts, leaving Sharpe no option but to pursue the enemy right into its deadly lair. Deep in the heart of enemy territory he also has to keep at bay the beautiful but scheming Regent, Madhuvanthi, who is out to seduce him. the production crew will take advantage of
fort and palace locations that will showcase Rajasthan’s exotic locales. Needless to state there will be fight sequences featuring thousands of extras.
BBC Worldwide has completed a deal with Celtic Films Entertainment / Picture Palace Films to distribute both the ITV1 drama and the above mentioned international version of Sharpe’s Challenge. BBC Worldwide head of commercial development, independents Matt Forde said, “We are delighted that we have agreed a deal to distribute Sharpe’s Challenge. We feel this has all the ingredients to be a major international hit and we are thrilled to be taking Sharpe to the global market.”
Producers Muir Sutherland and Malcolm Craddock said, “We are excited to be making a new Sharpe production on location in India and are delighted that it will be shown in the UK on ITV1 and in the USA on BBC America. We also look forward to working closely with BBC Worldwide and 2|entertain in maximising Sharpe’s international value.” Meanwhile Bean who has gone on to star in high profile Hollywood films like Flightplan opposite Jodie Foster which will be released in India in a few days time is said to be keen to reprise his role as Sharpe.
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.
