News Broadcasting
CNBC-TV18 launches a sub-brand ‘Next Gen’
Mumbai: CNBC-TV18, India’s leading business news channel, is expanding its brand reach and aims to be the voice of GenZ-ers, who are set to have significant purchasing power and decision-making abilities in the future. The channel launched a sub-brand named CNBC-TV18 Next Gen, the “Voice of a New Generation, with the credibility of CNBC-TV18.” The platform highlights its objective of providing information and inspiration to the new generation of India who are poised to become future decision-makers.
The launch of CNBC-TV18 Next Gen marks the first time a mainstream media house has dedicated a platform for GenZ, which was introduced with a grand virtual launch on 6 April 2023. The launch featured a unique Instagram Live Marathon, with several lifestyle influencers and artists joining Insta live on the new page, followed by Shereen Bhan herself on Insta live for a short take on “Why CNBC-TV18 Next Gen.”
The new platform includes a standalone content platform (cnbctv18.com/next-gen), a dedicated Instagram page, a YouTube playlist, all that will become the GenZ content destination. The sub-brand provides information and inspiration on diverse topics like personal tech, mental health, jobs and career, and lifestyle and travel, among others. The virtual launch featured several influencers, including fashion influencer Ritvi Shah, NRI lifestyle influencer Shivani Bafna, content creator Niki Mehra Madan and mental health advocate, Roshni Chopra, The Yellow Diary lead singer Rajan Batra, personal tech expert Tejas Patil, and Olympic Gold medallist Abhinav Bindra.
CNBC-TV18 managing editor Shereen Bhan said, “CNBC-TV18 has stood for providing credible, actionable information for its viewers for over two decades. As India ushers in an era of new savers and investors, CNBTV18 is ready to be a one-stop destination to address the needs of the young aspirational Indian. From personal finance & investing to tech & entrepreneurship, careers, gadgets, travel, food, and fashion, our brand-new offering, “CNBC-TV18 Next Gen, is dedicated to the young Indian.”
Network18 CEO business news Smriti Mehra said, “As per recent surveys, the younger generation under the age of 25, or GenZ, is going to have the highest purchasing power. Also, 75 per cent of the GenZ are going to prefer a better quality of life and work-life balance over money in the bank. CNBC-TV18, in its two decades of legacy, has always elevated the lifestyles and aspirations of its viewers and we are committed to doing the same for the next generation also. Moreover, as more and more brands target GenZs, CNBC-TV18 Next Gen is a rightly placed sub-brand at the right time for brands to create meaningful content with the credibility of CNBC-TV18 and target this audience base.”
CNBC-TV18 Next Gen represents an exciting new chapter in the evolution of CNBC-TV18, and it will continue to provide the audience with valuable content on topics that cater specially to the GenZ audience.
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.
