News Broadcasting
CNN goes south Asian with a vengeance
Waking up to the competitive environment in the most promising country after China, CNN has decided to launch a television service specific to south Asia beginning 1 July. Popular programmes are to be rescheduled for prime television viewing (beginning 20:00 hours daily), apart from offering locally produced shows specific to south Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh.
“This huge region has many CNN viewers who have wanted their own channel for some time. CNN’s new channel for South Asia is the network’s biggest strategic move for many years,” CNN International President Chris Cramer.
Under the new programming line up, CNN will have regional news on the hour, CNN’s ‘World News’ every half-hour, plus special programming strands on technology and science and CNN’s feature programming.
New shows, produced locally, will also be developed for the South Asia service.
“The launch of the South Asia channel is the next step in CNN International’s ongoing regionalisation strategy and demonstrates our long-term commitment to the increasingly important South Asia region,” said CNN International senior vice-president Rena Golden “CNN will continue to be vigilant in the region by bringing on board talent familiar with regional sensitivities and the socio-political environment.”
Audiences will get more than their fill of CNN’s popular anchor, Riz Khan, who will feature as a prominent presenter on the new channel. Additionally, business programmes will continue with ‘Biz Asia’ airing in prime-time and more regular business updates to be introduced from CNNfn’s correspondent in Mumbai.
“The Indian sub-continent is an important market for CNN and this new service will be an attractive offering for both viewers and cable operators. By time-shifting our programme schedule, the South Asia service will allow CNN’s most popular programmes to reach viewers in the region during their prime time viewing hours,” said Turner International India managing director Anshuman Misra.
The network will fully upgrade its current analogue signal to the advanced digital mode significantly improving the signal quality for local audiences. The CNN South Asia signal will be available via the PanAmSat-4 satellite. The IRD boxes will be distributed in South Asia by Turner International India Pvt. Ltd., which also distributes TCM, Cartoon Network and HBO.
Will CNN’s initiative be welcomed in India? It’s quite likely that it will. Reason: it has in recent times gained cachet with Indian audiences, especially after its coverage of the Indian plane hijacking in Afghanistan. And because Indians and south Asians want the American view on the developments in the region.
But other issues will have to be tackled first: the pricing package for the digital service, and the response by other news services such as Star News, the BBC, Zee News, and the gaggle of other news channels that are expected to launch in the not too distant future. The BBC has a tremendous lead on it because it had started localising a long time back, the other services are run by locals.The Indian and south Asian trek for CNN has just begun.
News Broadcasting
UDF poised to return to power in Kerala, says Manorama-CVoter survey
Massive opinion poll projects shift in Kerala politics ahead of 2026 Assembly elections.
MUMBAI: The winds of change appear to be blowing through Kerala’s political landscape and this time, they seem to favour the United Democratic Front. A comprehensive mega opinion survey conducted by Manorama News in partnership with CVoter projects a potential comeback for the UDF in the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections 2026. The survey, covering all 140 constituencies with a massive sample size of nearly 90,000 respondents, predicts the UDF could win between 69 and 81 seats.
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is expected to secure 57 to 69 seats, a significant drop from the 99 seats it won in the 2021 elections. This would mean the LDF losing 30 to 42 of its sitting seats. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which drew a blank in 2021, is projected to open its account with 1 to 5 seats.
Region-wise, the UDF is expected to make strong gains in Malabar, winning 25 to 34 out of 48 seats, and in Central Kerala, where it could bag 29 to 33 out of 53 seats. In South Kerala, the LDF is likely to retain an edge with 21 to 25 seats, while the UDF may improve to 12 to 16 seats. The NDA could pick up 1 to 3 seats in the southern region.
The survey was conducted between 14 and 26 March 2026, with additional tracker and snap polls carried out from December 2025 to March 2026. A total of 89,693 respondents participated, ensuring representation across all demographics and social segments.
Manorama News has a strong track record of accuracy, with its previous projections closely matching the actual results of the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as the 2021 Kerala Assembly polls.
In Kerala’s famously fierce political battles, this survey suggests the pendulum may be swinging back. Whether the final verdict matches these numbers or throws up another surprise, one thing is clear, the 2026 Assembly elections are shaping up to be one of the most keenly watched contests in the state’s history.
