News Broadcasting
Bye Bye, Girish
It is with deep sorrow I announce that our esteemed colleague Girish Nikam is no more with us. Today evening, after recording his show ‘Big Picture’, he suffered a cardiac attack. He was immediately rushed to a hospital from the studio but he decided to say the final bye to all of us.
Girish was an integral part of RSTV, a voice of sobriety, rationale and compassion in the debates that he conducted, which became the hallmark of the channel.
He was one of the first one to join RSTV. He had never anchored before. He didn’t fit the caricature of TV anchors that Indian television has created and promoted. But, he was requested to anchor because we wanted to establish that television debates can also be about content and not just style.
Girish’s long experience in journalism qualified him for the experiment. And, how he proved it! Redefining not just the content and conduct of TV debates, but also developing a flair and style that has a huge fan following today.
Girish is gone, but he decided to go in style, right from the studio to an eternal journey. He always wanted to live actively till his last breath and, like everything else in his life, achieved this too as per his wish and on his terms!
Rajya Sabha Television will miss him. It will be difficult for anyone to emulate him in his show ‘The Big Picture’. But, he has left behind a template for serious television debates, which would certainly guide future anchors of RSTV.
I express my grief and sense of loss, which everyone in my channel shares with me. Because, besides everything else, Girish was a great human being, full of compassion, camaraderie and warmth.
Bye bye to a colleague, who was a ‘non-hypocrite’ to the extent of perfection.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 launches weekend show Health Matters to decode health trends
New show aims to cut through viral wellness fads with expert-backed advice
MUMBAI: In an age where viral reels often double up as lifestyle advice, CNN-News18 is launching a weekend show aimed at separating health facts from fashionable myths.
Titled News18 Health Matters, the half-hour programme will premiere on 14 March 2026 and position itself as a reliable guide through the maze of wellness trends, internet remedies and quick-fix health advice that increasingly shape everyday decisions.
India is in the midst of a major health transition. Lifestyle diseases are striking earlier, stress and sleep deprivation have become routine, and health choices are often influenced by trending content rather than medical evidence. The new show leans into this reality with a simple premise: trending does not always mean true.
Anchored by Hem Kaur Saroya and Himani Chandna, the programme will air every Saturday at 8:30 am and 5:30 pm and on Sundays at 10:30 am. Episodes will also be available on the channel’s YouTube platform.
Each instalment will tackle everyday health concerns that are increasingly entering mainstream conversations. Topics range from the rise of heart attacks among people under 40 and the growing reliance on protein supplements, to the rush toward weight-loss drugs and the widespread overuse of painkillers. The show will also examine issues such as screen addiction, chronic sleep loss, stress-related disorders and the rising prevalence of thyroid conditions, diabetes and hypertension.
Speaking about the launch, Rahul Shivshankar said the show aims to bring clarity to a space crowded with misinformation.
“With Health Matters, CNN-News18 aims to cut through the noise and empower viewers with clear, expert-led conversations grounded in science and medical evidence. At a time when viral trends increasingly influence lifestyle choices, it is important to distinguish between what is trending and what is truly beneficial for long-term health,” he said.
Echoing the sentiment, Smriti Mehra said the programme reflects the channel’s commitment to responsible and relevant programming.
“With growing public interest in wellness and preventive health, Health Matters strengthens CNN-News18’s focus on issues that affect everyday life. In an increasingly crowded information space, credible and verified health conversations have never been more important,” she said.
With Health Matters, CNN-News18 is betting that viewers want more than bite-sized advice and viral fixes. The show promises something rarer in the age of algorithm-driven wellness tips: calm, credible conversations that help people make better health choices.
