News Broadcasting
Bloomberg UTV invites budding entrepreneurs to ‘Pitch’
MUMBAI: Bloomberg UTV, the English business news channel which recently adopted the new ‘blunt and sharp’ look, has unveiled its first business reality show, The Pitch.
The channel has partnered with angel investor firm Mumbai Angels, which will be providing seed capital of up to Rs 50 million to the winner.
The Pitch will identify, evaluate and encourage potential entrepreneurs who have business ideas, and also possess the skills required to execute those ideas successfully.
Theatre and film actor Boman Irani will host the show.
The channel has called for nationwide entries, which will be shortlisted by a jury comprising Indiagames founder Vishal Gondal, Games2Win’s Alok Kejriwal and Career Launcher’s Satya Narayanan. They will shortlist the top 30 business plans and their creators, who could make it to the show.
Mumbai Angels co-founder Sasha Mirchandani will closely evaluate these 30 aspirants and identify the final 10 aspirants who will appear on the show.
The announcement was made at a press conference here by UTV Group chairman and CEO Ronnie Screwvala.
The 10-episode series, which will launch in October, will see one business leader in every episode, testing the mettle of the aspirants. Bloomberg UTV has already lined up Rahul Bajaj, Kishore Biyani, Naina Lal Kidwai, Karan Johar and N Damodaran to appear on the show.
Each week on a fresh episode, a business leader will design and assign business tasks to the participants. The tasks will be designed to challenge the aspirants on the most critical skills required to be a successful entrepreneur and by eliminating the weakest performer, narrow down to the most competent and deserving aspirant who goes on to receive the funding for their business.
Bloomberg UTV business head Deepak Lamba said, “Through this show, Bloomberg UTV continues to strengthen its commitment to make a difference to viewers’ lives. We encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship in the country. There is no dearth of ideas but the buck always stops at the funds and through this show we will provide not only the funds but also a direction to the winner and his idea.”
Irani added, “I am excited to be a part of this show as I am truly convinced with the philosophy of promoting entrepreneurship. The Pitch will not only identify the next big idea in India but will also help the winner see the light of day by offering them the funding to make the idea come alive.”
Mirchandani said, “There are many efforts to identify great business ideas. The critical element of this show is its focus on the acumen and ability of the aspirant. Most great ideas perish for the want of the right execution. The aspirant who makes it to the end is a definite winner.”
Bloomberg UTV has roped in M3M India as the presenting sponsor of The Pitch.
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.
