News Broadcasting
CNN to air ‘CNN Connects: Power Redefined’
MUMBAI: CNN is to focus on the powerful and political in a week of special programming in CNN Connects: Power Redefined from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This is the first of four special events recognizing CNN’s 25th anniversary. CNN’s five days of the World Economic Forum coverage will run from 26 January to 30 January, 2005.
Hosted by Jim Clancy, Power Redefined will be in front of an invited audience of business executives, academics and politicians to tackle the questions: Who has it, who wants it, who can bestow it and who can take it away?
In addition, CNN’s Becky Anderson will host editions of Business International live from Davos as well as an edition of International Correspondents. CNN’s London News Anchor Richard Quest and Senior International Correspondent Walter Rogers will also be in Davos covering the news as it emerges during the five-day World Economic Forum, informs an official release.
In 2005, CNN will celebrate its 25th anniversary and the creation of the 24-hour television news. The anniversary will be marked with special global events including four landmark CNN Comments programs that tackle issues facing the world in the decades to come, adds the release.
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.
