News Broadcasting
‘Frames 2004’ develops unique themes for each day
MUMBAI: Frames 2004 , the global convention on the business of entertainment will kick off in two weeks’ time in Powai. The three-day event takes place from 15-17 March and the organisers have come up with a unique theme for each day.
They are India Unbound, Making It Possible and Vision 20/20 Future Perfect? As the last name suggests, the last day of Frames takes a broad perspective on the state of the industry. With CAS officially put on the backburner the question now is what do we do now on the crucial issue of addressability? Speakers attempting to answer this question will include Walt Disney Asia Pacific MD Doug Miller who will deliver the session’s keynote address. Prasar Bharati CEO K S Sarma will put forth the point of view of the pubcaster. Representing the technology side are NDS Asia Pacific’s VP, GM Sue Taylor and Motorola’s A K Sekhar.
Casbaa will host a session, which will focus on what India can learn from other countries regarding pay television. The speakers include Star CEO Michelle Guthrie, Celestial Pictures CEO William Pfeiffer, and CNBC Asia Pacific president and CEO Alexander Brown.
The second day will see two brainstorming sessions on how programmers and advertisers can improve their return on investment on the television. Turner International Asia – Pacific president and MD Steve Marcopoto will deliver the keynote address at one of the sessions. He will dwell on the strategies overseas broadcasters have adopted. Other speakers include Star India COO Sameer Nair, Tam CEO L V Krishnan and Sony’s executive VP Sunil Lulla.
On the opening day a key session will focus on radio. RadioActive: Unravelling the Mystery of Effective Radio Communication will be chaired by Banyan Tree Communications MD Anish Trivedi. Advertisers are confronting the challenge of how to maximise the return on investment. Lowe India executive creative director R Balakrishnan (Balki) will dwell on the ten golden rules of maximising advertising effectiveness on radio. Radio Mirchi CEO A P Parigi will dwell on the key issue of creating listener loyalty.
As had been reported earlier by indiantelevision.com, Reliance Industries chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani will deliver the final address at the event.
News Broadcasting
UDF poised to return to power in Kerala, says Manorama-CVoter survey
Massive opinion poll projects shift in Kerala politics ahead of 2026 Assembly elections.
MUMBAI: The winds of change appear to be blowing through Kerala’s political landscape and this time, they seem to favour the United Democratic Front. A comprehensive mega opinion survey conducted by Manorama News in partnership with CVoter projects a potential comeback for the UDF in the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections 2026. The survey, covering all 140 constituencies with a massive sample size of nearly 90,000 respondents, predicts the UDF could win between 69 and 81 seats.
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is expected to secure 57 to 69 seats, a significant drop from the 99 seats it won in the 2021 elections. This would mean the LDF losing 30 to 42 of its sitting seats. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which drew a blank in 2021, is projected to open its account with 1 to 5 seats.
Region-wise, the UDF is expected to make strong gains in Malabar, winning 25 to 34 out of 48 seats, and in Central Kerala, where it could bag 29 to 33 out of 53 seats. In South Kerala, the LDF is likely to retain an edge with 21 to 25 seats, while the UDF may improve to 12 to 16 seats. The NDA could pick up 1 to 3 seats in the southern region.
The survey was conducted between 14 and 26 March 2026, with additional tracker and snap polls carried out from December 2025 to March 2026. A total of 89,693 respondents participated, ensuring representation across all demographics and social segments.
Manorama News has a strong track record of accuracy, with its previous projections closely matching the actual results of the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as the 2021 Kerala Assembly polls.
In Kerala’s famously fierce political battles, this survey suggests the pendulum may be swinging back. Whether the final verdict matches these numbers or throws up another surprise, one thing is clear, the 2026 Assembly elections are shaping up to be one of the most keenly watched contests in the state’s history.
