News Broadcasting
BBC promotes Arabic FM service through billboard
MUMBAI: The BBC is the first international broadcaster to win permission for a billboard in Baghdad. After months of negotiation with pre- and post-handover of Iraqi authorities, the 14×4 meter billboard, promoting BBC Arabic radio and online, has been erected on top of a large office building in the commercial Al Mansour district.
Promoting the BBC’s 89FM frequency with the strapline, ‘The World, Your News in Arabic’, the campaign reinforces the importance Iraqi people place on impartial and objective news from the BBC. Over 3.3 million people in Iraq are now listening to the BBC in Arabic, many of them tuning into the seven new FMs the BBC has launched across the country, informs the official release.
BBC World Service International marketing head Jane Futrell says, “It has been a real challenge for the team getting a billboard into Iraq, the timing and location took months to negotiate but research proves our audience is growing rapidly on FM. There is a need for impartial international news and it is important people know how to access us.”
The billboard is sited above an optician and is the latest stage in the BBC’s ongoing marketing campaign in Iraq. The other activity includes a map/ calendar for Baghdad residents and print advertising to promote the new FM frequencies in the Iraqi national daily Azzaman and a range of pan-Arab newspapers.
The UK based company – Virtuality – designed the artwork and the site was sourced and negotiated by Creative Media in the UK and the Lebanon-based contractor, Picasso, states the official release.
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.
