News Broadcasting
Channel [V] claims growth overdrive
Watch out the [V] machine is coming. That is the message that the Star Network’s music channel is sending out to its rivals, principally MTV. Channel [V]’s strategy of focussing on the urban youth market and creating new formats and programming innovations like Coke [V] Popstars talent hunt that gave birth to all-girl band VIVA!, is paying rich dividends, the channel claims.
The success of Coke [V] Popstars as well as the album sales of VIVA!, has seen Channel [V] driving growth in the entire music category in the last few months, claim channel representatives, quoting AC Nielsen’s TAM data.
Says Sameer Nair, COO Star TV: “Popstars was the flagship show on the channel and it performed that role as expected, fuelling growth in shares & increasing the stickiness of the channel.”
Measurement Parameter Channel [V]
Audience Share 127% Up
TVR 100% Up
Cumulative Reach 26% Up
Time Spent 68% Up
(Source: TAM Media research, Base: C&S SEC ABC 15-24 yrs, 9 cities, April to June 2002 versus April to June 2001)
Among the other recent successes the channel has notched up are the 8 Promax BDA awards it picked up in Los Angeles. This has been the one of the largest hauls for any Indian Channel in recent times.
And to keep the momentum going, Channel [V] has completely rejigged its morning band, as research showed that viewers preferred back-to-back music in this slot & not VJ-hosted or link-based shows. With this in mind, the Captain Fastbreak band has been created with the catchline “you are never more than 60 seconds away from great music!” The channel has also launched [V] Video War, an interactive SMS-based show where viewers vote for their preferred music video.
Says Amar Deb, creative director, “We will continue to show the way in the music television category with our racy promos & innovative programming. There is a whole series of new stuff in the pipeline which will ensure that Channel [V] will continue to retain this edge.”
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.
