News Broadcasting
BBC to tie-up with Prasar Bharati for AIDS awareness programmes
The BBC World Service Trust, a charitable arm of the BBC’s World Service, is setting up a production partnership with Prasar Bharati to campaign for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention’s
The project is being undertaken on behalf of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and will concentrate on the low-prevalence northern states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana. The Beeb is now seeking senior creative personnel from India to head the year-long project, likely to be started by December this year.
The project will involve TV programmes targeted at youth, the most vital audience for an HIV / AIDS campaign, according to the BBC. One of the programmes envisaged an ‘exciting’ weekly half hour show aimed at 15-30 year olds watching Doordarshan from Delhi, Lucknow and Jaipur. There are also plans for broadcasting thrice-weekly short-form drama series at peak viewing times, from Doordarshan Kendras in Delhi, Lucknow and Jaipur. ‘The series will engage the audience in a stimulating storyline that opens up the issues of relationship responsibility, sexual health and AIDS prevention’, sources say. Plans are also afoot for launching an innovative phone-in show for young people on FM, with repeats on the main channel. This is scheduled to be the centerpiece of an AIR campaign on HIV/AIDS prevention from Lucknow.
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.
