News Broadcasting
CNN takes ‘The Path of Pilgrims’
MUMBAI: From Jakarta to New York and Baghdad to Paris, more than two million Muslims are expected to take part in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
For the eighth consecutive year, CNN International will present exclusive images and stories from the Hajj, including a look at pilgrims making their way from these cities. Hosted by journalist Zain Verjee, CNN International offers a week of special coverage from 19-24 January.
The special coverage will culminate in a half-hour programme Hajj: The Path Of Pilgrims, as Verjee looks back on the events of the week through the experiences of these pilgrims. The programme airs on 23 January at 5 pm with repeats on 29 January at 6 pm and on 30 January at 8 pm.
Through the eyes of the pilgrims, CNN International features several personal perspectives of the sacred journey. This year, CNN will offer a unique behind-the-scenes look at the pilgrimage of a three-generation Iraqi-American family who are given a camcorder to closely document their experiences. U.S.-based Imam Qazwini, a Shia Cleric, whose 14 family members were executed under Saddam Hussein, will be making this pilgrimage with his 18-year-old son. The two will meet up with their Iraqi grandfather in Medina.
CNN Intl senior VP Rena Golden said, “By allowing a camera on their journey, this family is letting the world bear witness to something very personal and we are pleased to be able to give our viewers such a distinct perspective of the Hajj. What is happening in the Middle East and the Islamic world are important issues for CNN viewers. Therefore, providing special insight into the Hajj is essential.”
News Broadcasting
News18 India to air Sabse Bada Dangal on 4 May counting day
Channel promises fastest results, live trends and analysis across five states.
MUMBAI: Ballots will do the talking and screens will do the shouting. As counting day approaches for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, News18 India is gearing up for an all-day broadcast of its flagship election show, Sabse Bada Dangal, on 4 May from 6 am onwards. The Hindi news channel plans to deliver continuous, real-time updates as votes are tallied, combining live counting data with on-ground reporting and studio analysis. With political fortunes set to shift through the day, the coverage will track every swing, surge and surprise as trends turn into results.
The broadcast will feature a mix of senior political leaders, analysts and experts, offering instant reactions and decoding the evolving electoral picture. Expect heated debates, quick takes and detailed breakdowns as the numbers settle across all five states.
For News18 India, counting day has long been a high-visibility moment. The network is banking on its reporting reach, editorial bandwidth and technology-driven coverage to stay ahead in what is often a fiercely competitive news cycle.
With multiple battlegrounds and shifting narratives, the day promises both drama and data in equal measure. And if all goes to plan, Sabse Bada Dangal will once again turn the counting of votes into prime-time spectacle.
