News Broadcasting
BBC World to launch ‘Back To The Floor’
MUMBAI: The focus is on the basics of business at BBC World.
Starting Sunday, 4 January, the channel will air a seven-part series Back To The Floor, as part of it’s India Business Report strand, at 11am.
The series will have some of the top management from India’s largest business houses return to shop level to gain a real understanding of working life in their companies, interacting with their employees and facing the same challenges and problems as them.
The first series features Reliance Industries chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani, who takes on the role of an ordinary shop floor worker for a day, says a company release.
Responsible for leading the $17 billion group into the 21st century, the 46-year-old Stanford graduate will work like one of the 2,000 employees based in India’s biggest refinery in Jamnagar. He will be collecting oil samples and noting temperature readings and handling crises as a radio officer at the Port Operations Control room. In short, he will gains a real insight into life at the sharp end of his business.
Amongst the interesting moments of the programme include him queuing up for meals and getting into crowded buses and then returning to the boardroom for a meeting with his divisional heads to seek solutions for the issues brought to light during his time on the floor.
In yet another episode, Infosys’ Nandan Nilekani takes on the responsibilities as a project manager for three days, he comes in terms with the pressure faced by his staff.
Amongst another series of Back To The Floor is one where the founder and Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, Dr Pratap Reddy takes on a stint as an intern doctor and take an inside look at emergencies and complicated operations. The experience offered him the opportunity to listen to the day-to-day problems of his employees at various levels.
According to BBC World, commissioning editor, Narendhra Morar, “This is a unique series that will be absolutely fascinating for our viewers in India. The business leaders featured in these seven programmes learn many tough lessons about the reality of life on the shop floor, with cameras capturing every moment of the trials and tribulations they encounter while going Back To The Floor.”
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.
