News Broadcasting
CNN popular among top management group: survey
MUMBAI: The latest Pan Asia Cross Media Survey (PAX 2002/03 suggests that CNN’s audiences earned US$79.9 billion in the past year.
According to the study posted on the CNN site, the PAX survey conducted by Synovate from July 2002 to June 2003, reveals that CNN is the leading channel for the top management group and business decision makers. (See graph below). The channel has attracted 39 per cent more top management in Asia than the next most targeted channel for this elite group.
Source: Pax Survey 2002-’03
The result of the full-year survey, released last week, also show CNN’s continued leadership of the news genre for the seventh consecutive year, with more viewers tuning in to the channel than all other international news and business channels combined.
The study claims that CNN excels in the broader PAX demographic groups, with no channel reaching more viewers in total. The channel shows 16.3 per cent coverage in 11 Asian markets including Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia and India. In India, the survey covered Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. It was noted that the channel is most watched by people with an annual income of 60+ US dollars. (See graph below).
A CNN release quotes Turner International Asia Pacific Inc’s senior vice president-news advertising sales, Nick Morgan as saying, “For the seventh year running, CNN leads the field in reaching this region’s most affluent consumers. Busy, successful people, who don’t have time for television, make time for CNN, in order to stay informed.”
According to the Turner International’s vice president, research, Duncan Morris, “From the PAX survey, it’s clear that CNN remains the most targeted means of reaching a high proportion of the region’s more affluent, mobile and successful people.”
Source: Pax Survey 2002-’03
CNN also continues to be the channel of choice for frequent business travelers, the release states, highlighting the PAX result which shows that the channel viewers accounted for 28 per cent more business hotel nights than the next most watched channel.
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.
