News Broadcasting
‘DNA’ gears up for a price war
NEW DELHI / MUMBAI: Daily News and Analysis (DNA), an English newspaper promoted by the Essel Group-Dainik Bhaskar 50:50 joint venture, is targeting a late July-early August debut in the Mumbai market that has started steaming up with high-profile launches.
According to a senior executive of the joint venture company, Diligent Media Corporation, the launch target is early August, but if the newspaper could debut before, probably by the third or fourth week of July, it would be ideal.
The price of DNA, which is being touted as a newspaper that will cater to the ‘real needs of readers, has not yet been decided as the company promoting it is waiting for competition to react on the pricing front before deciding how much subsidization could be done.
Competition for DNA would come from evergreen leader The Times of India (TOI), Mumbai Mirror (a recently launched TOI group product in a compact format) and Hindustan Times, which, too, is targeting a July launch with its Mumbai edition.
Mirrors introductory pricing is Re 1 that will go up to Rs 2 after the first month. The industry buzz is that HT might price itself initially at Re 1 as well. It needs noting that the TOI’s weekday price is Rs 4, while the weekend price is Rs 5.
Well have to see whether the mass circulating TOI drops it prices in anticipation of other newspapers launching in Mumbai before we decide DNAs cover price, the executive from Diligent Media said, admitting, Therell be skirmishes on the price front.
Diligent Media has already put up a state-of-the-art printing press in the Vashi area of Navi Mumbai with a capacity to print 450,000 copies.
In recent times, DNA has been poaching heavily from other newspapers for manpower, including senior editorial staffers. However, an editor-in-chief or equivalent has not yet been selected, though most section editors are in place.
The type of content that would be offered to readers via DNA is getting decided by the feedback from a massive survey launched by the Dainik Bhaskar group, which is a Bhopal-based regional media powerhouse with intentions of becoming a national player.
The executive added further that some 11 million respondents would be contacted for feedback on content and look.
Diligent Media is a joint venture, but an informal understanding between the partners is that the Bhaskar group would take care of distribution and operations, while Essel would be responsible for the editorial and marketing activities.
The Bhaskar group promoters, the Agarwal family, are seasoned businesspeople and have built up strong bases in Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.
According to the latest NRS figures, Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar is the second largest circulating newspaper in the country.
The Subhash Chandra-promoted Essel Group has diverse national and global business interests, encompassing media programming, broadcast & distribution, specialty packaging, entertainment, telecom and trading.
Some of the companies promoted by Essel Group are Zee Telefilms Limited, Indias largest vertically integrated media and entertainment company; Essel Propack Limited, worlds largest lami tube packagers; Essel World and Water Kingdom theme parks and Playwin, Indias first online gaming service.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
