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
CNN-News18 to host Kolkata Town Hall on Hooghly River
‘Bhalobasa Bengal Inspiring Bharat’ event on April 20 brings cultural icons, trailblazing women and leaders aboard a cruise to celebrate Bengal’s enduring influence.
MUMBAI: Bengal is about to make fresh waves on the Hooghly and this time the current is pure conversation. CNN-News18 is taking its iconic Town Hall format to the waters of the iconic Hooghly River on 20 April 2026 with a special edition titled ‘Bhalobasa Bengal – Inspiring Bharat’. The floating event will celebrate the state’s rich cultural legacy and how its ideas, creativity and spirit continue to shape the rest of the country.
The unique riverside setting draws on Bengal’s history as a cradle of reform, art and intellectual thought. The speaker line-up mirrors that diversity: cultural heavyweights Mithun Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar will share the stage with trailblazing “Devis” such as Tanya Sanyal (India’s first woman firefighter in aviation), Ipsita Chakraborty (Kolkata’s first woman bartender) and Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi (Nari Shakti awardee and marine pilot). Music will flow through the celebrated pianist-vocalist duo Sourendro and Soumyojit, while public life and governance will be represented by Smriti Irani, Leander Paes, Saira Shah Halim, Keya Ghosh, Rekha Patra, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director, Rahul Shivshankar, said the event honours voices that carry Bengal’s legacy forward. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that Bengal’s stories resonate far beyond its borders, especially as the state heads into polls.
From the first woman to battle flames in the skies to legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema, the gathering promises a rich mix of inspiration, courage and candid dialogue. In a city where culture has always flowed as freely as the river itself, CNN-News18 is turning the Hooghly into a floating forum for ideas that matter.
Tune in on 20 April on CNN-News18, CTV and YouTube to catch Bengal’s heartbeat in full flow.
