News Broadcasting
BBC Worldwide secures first S-DMB deal in Asia
MUMBAI: To say that BBC is bullish on Asia would be stating the obvious. Continuing to mark its presence in the region, BBC Worldwide has become one of the first UK distributors to provide entertainment content to an Asian mobile television broadcaster’s S-DMB (Satellite Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) service.
The deal was announced at the BBC Showcase in Brighton and allows the customers of Tu Media to watch 39 hours of Top Gear programming through in-car devices or gadgets such as mobile phones, laptops, and personal digital cameras. Launched in May 2005, Tu Media’s S-DMB service is said to attract over one million subscribers.
The deal with Tu Media includes all programmes from Top Gear’s 2004-05 and 2005-2006 series.BBC show Top Gear is available in well over 100 countries worldwide, reaching more than 138 million households globally.
BBC Worldwide Senior TV Sales Manager, Asia Linfield Ng, said: “Digital media is a huge growth area for our business. I’m delighted that BBC Worldwide has brokered this exciting deal, which combines one of South Korea’s most important new broadcasting technologies with one of the BBC’s most popular titles.”
TU Media Contents Acquisition Director Gidu Kim added: “As the high quality our S-DMB service continues to attract over 1000 new subscribers every day, it’s crucial that TU Media consistently offers our customers the best programming available. Today’s deal does exactly that – 43 hours of what we believe to be the world’s premier motoring programme, and just the start of what I hope will be a long relationship with BBC Worldwide.”
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.
