News Broadcasting
CCTV China – Autodesk tie-up for high-definition broadcasting
MUMBAI: China Central Television (CCTV), China’s largest national television network, has expanded its post-production pipeline with media and entertainment solutions from California-headquartered software and services company Autodesk Solutions.
This expansion enables CCTV to centralize its in-house broadcast graphics, offer high-definition (HD) programming, and prepare for the broadcasting of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. CCTV is using Autodesk’s solutions to help them realize their ideas for sophisticated promo packages, network IDs and show opens for CCTV channels, states an official release.
CCTV has relied on Autodesk’s Discreet Flint and Discreet Flame visual effects systems since 1994. The network’s post-production pipeline expansion includes the addition of two Discreet Flame systems and two Discreet Smoke editing and finishing systems, along with several seats of Autodesk Combustion desktop compositing software and Autodesk 3ds Max 3D animation software. Further workflow efficiencies are enabled by Autodesk Backdraft, a pipeline media management and input-output (I/O) solution.
“With each solution purchase, we must take into consideration both the current and future demands of graphics packages for an ever-increasing slate of programs,” director of Post Production at CCTV Cui Jian Wei said. “Reliability, productivity and flexibility are our main evaluation criteria. Autodesk’s solutions fit in with our existing workflow model and provide the capabilities and overall pipeline management to ease our expansion into HD production and our preparation for the Olympics, while allowing for a growing volume of content to be produced.”
The vast requirements of CCTV, among the most prolific producers of television content in China, include strong and flexible network management capabilities. Autodesk solutions meet these needs, providing scalable systems and software that can be employed together or separately, depending upon a project’s particular needs, the release adds.
“We have partnered with CCTV for more than ten years,” Autodesk Software (China) Co. president Dr. Jack Gao said. “CCTV is at the forefront of broadcast production in China, and we are honored that they continue to standardize on Autodesk systems and software as they expand and centralize their post-production infrastructure.”
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.
