News Broadcasting
DD News to get another make-over
NEW DELHI: Well, well! Doordarshan News, the channel that was relaunched late last year, is getting another face-lift as the country gets into the general elections mode.
A The new look, , to be effective from 2 February, would include a slightly modified logo, new graphics, montage and several brand new shows. And giving finishing touches to the makeover is the Noida-based Beehive Systems, which has clients like CNBC TV 18.
Being the only surviving bilingual news channel in operation at present — Star News gave up this slot to become an all-Hindi channel — DD News would be introducing a half hour `dynamic wheel with news on the hour every hour in Hindi, interspersed with English news bulletins every half hour.
The Headline News will be repeated in the middle, which ensures that no headline news is more than 15 minutes away.
The new programme schedule has been drawn up with flexibility as the core word, though it has to be seen whether the strategy succeeds, according to Prasar Bharati, which manages DD and All India Radio. The focus will be on bringing as many events live as possible.
Ever since its launch, DD News has been having a good run on the viewership chart. Being a terrestrial-cum-satellite channel, it quickly managed to corner 61 percent viewership in all-TV homes.
Known more for being a dull and drab government mouthpiece and less for good packaging and racy presentation, DD News, however, surprised critics by emerging the second most watched channel after Aaj Tak, in the fiercely competitive C & S (cable and satellite) homes. Over the last few weeks, DD News has moved down to third position among 15 + viewers in C & S homes, but Prasar Bharati officials expect the situation to change , again, for the better as it unveils a slew of new programming and packaging initiatives.
The new shows being introduced are as following:
* A bilingual new breakfast show, to be anchored by Sanjiv Paliwal, Anisha Nayyar, Kartikeya Sharma and Ume Qul Sum. Politics and business will be part of it, but the main focus will be on entertainment, lifestyle, sports and international news.
– Chunav Ki Halchal : This programme is already on air at 10.30 p.m. in place of a sponsored programme of Rajat Sharma, which has since discontinued.
– Jan Vaani : A Sunday interactive talk show featuring a celebrity guest with invited audience and phone-ins and SMS inputs. With election fever gripping the country, the guests would be mostly politicians from different walks of life.
– Chhoti Moti Batein : Another programme aimed at a specific target audience, the youth between 18-20 years, who are going to vote for the first time in their lives. This will be an edutainment show aimed at creating political consciousness among the youth and air in the evening on Saturdays and Sundays.
– Kahi Unkahi (Said Unsaid) : Addresses issues concerning minority communities on Sunday afternoons. This programme will be broadcast on DD National also.
– Rajya Nama : Another election-oriented programme, where poll scenario is dissected and analysed state by state during weekdays at 7 pm.
– Global Challenges : A programme on international affairs hosted by journalist Arati Jerath. The programme is supported by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Other popular programmes like Rangtarang (culture round up) and Sports Talk would continue to be on air after a revamp, including a new montage and better packaging.
With more people from Aaj Tak channel joining DD News (subse tez channel’s news director Uday Shankar would join Star News some time in February after a break from Aaj Tak), the pubcaster is gearing up to cover general elections in a big way.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 launches weekend show Health Matters to decode health trends
New show aims to cut through viral wellness fads with expert-backed advice
MUMBAI: In an age where viral reels often double up as lifestyle advice, CNN-News18 is launching a weekend show aimed at separating health facts from fashionable myths.
Titled News18 Health Matters, the half-hour programme will premiere on 14 March 2026 and position itself as a reliable guide through the maze of wellness trends, internet remedies and quick-fix health advice that increasingly shape everyday decisions.
India is in the midst of a major health transition. Lifestyle diseases are striking earlier, stress and sleep deprivation have become routine, and health choices are often influenced by trending content rather than medical evidence. The new show leans into this reality with a simple premise: trending does not always mean true.
Anchored by Hem Kaur Saroya and Himani Chandna, the programme will air every Saturday at 8:30 am and 5:30 pm and on Sundays at 10:30 am. Episodes will also be available on the channel’s YouTube platform.
Each instalment will tackle everyday health concerns that are increasingly entering mainstream conversations. Topics range from the rise of heart attacks among people under 40 and the growing reliance on protein supplements, to the rush toward weight-loss drugs and the widespread overuse of painkillers. The show will also examine issues such as screen addiction, chronic sleep loss, stress-related disorders and the rising prevalence of thyroid conditions, diabetes and hypertension.
Speaking about the launch, Rahul Shivshankar said the show aims to bring clarity to a space crowded with misinformation.
“With Health Matters, CNN-News18 aims to cut through the noise and empower viewers with clear, expert-led conversations grounded in science and medical evidence. At a time when viral trends increasingly influence lifestyle choices, it is important to distinguish between what is trending and what is truly beneficial for long-term health,” he said.
Echoing the sentiment, Smriti Mehra said the programme reflects the channel’s commitment to responsible and relevant programming.
“With growing public interest in wellness and preventive health, Health Matters strengthens CNN-News18’s focus on issues that affect everyday life. In an increasingly crowded information space, credible and verified health conversations have never been more important,” she said.
With Health Matters, CNN-News18 is betting that viewers want more than bite-sized advice and viral fixes. The show promises something rarer in the age of algorithm-driven wellness tips: calm, credible conversations that help people make better health choices.
