News Broadcasting
GBN buys out New Vernon’s stake, ups holding in Jagran TV to 55%
MUMBAI: Global Broadcast News (GBN) is buying out the 10.01 per cent stake of Mauritius-based New Vernon Private Equity Fund in Jagran TV for Rs 200 million.
With this, GBN will hold around 55 per cent stake in Jagran TV which owns and operates Hindi language news channel IBN 7.
Last year GBN had picked up 49 per cent in BK Fincap, the holding company of Jagran TV.
“We will be holding around 55 per cent in Jagran TV. We have bought out the stake of New Vernon,” GBN joint managing director Sameer Manchanda tells Indiantelevision.com.
Even as private equity fund New Vernon has exited from Jagran TV, the Gupta family who are founder-promoters, continue to hold stake in Jagran TV.
GBN board has approved the acquisition of 13,47,231 equity shares, or 10.01 per cent, from New Vernon in Jagran TV, the company said on Monday.
GBN plans to launch its Marathi news channel in the first quarter of 2008, says Manchanda. GBN has a 50:50 joint venture with Lokmat group for the Marathi news channel.
“we are looking at other regional news channels but haven’t firmed up our plans yet,” adds Manchanda.
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.
