News Broadcasting
CNBC-TV18 brings Union Budget show ‘Budget Verdict’
Mumbai: CNBC-TV18 is set to host the eighth edition of the Budget Verdict on 2 February with the goal of providing viewers with a thorough understanding of the Union Budget 2023-24 and how it affects their lives.
CNBC-TV18’s Budget Verdict is a unique platform that brings together Union Budget makers, policymakers, and industry. As always, the Budget Verdict provides powerful and comprehensive budget analysis from a variety of perspectives, including the common man, large and small businesses, the government, and various other key stakeholders in India’s economy.
This year at CNBC-TV18 managing editor Shereen Bhan will be in conversation with renowned economist and chief economic advisor Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, the department of investment and public asset management secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey, the department for promoting industry and internal trade secretary Anurag Jain, the ministry of new and renewable energy secretary Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, NITI Aayog CEO Parameswaran Iyer, the minister of road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari, the department of revenue secretary Sanjay Malhotra, central board of direct tax chairperson Nitin Gupta and central board of indirect tax chairman Vivek Johri.
The group will also engage in Q&A sessions with a live audience of leaders from India Inc. in addition to imparting their insightful knowledge on the several facets of the budget.
CNBC-TV18’s Budget Verdict has become the most reputable event to analyse, assess, and comprehend the creation and impact of the union budget during the past seven years. A singular interaction between union budget makers and the leaders of India Inc. to provide the most incisive and thorough budget effect evaluation.
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.
