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HFCL Nine-Broadcasting looking at more acquisitions
The acquisition of a 20 per cent equity stake in top notch production house Balaji Telefilms is just the first of many partnerships that the Kerry Packer- HFCL joint venture will be doing. In an interview to Business Standard Weekend, HFCL chairman Vinay Maloo revealed that the group was talking to at least five other production companies to take a 20-40 per cent equity stake. “These matters are likely to be finalised in a few weeks from now,” he said to the newspaper. “Our strategy is very clear. We want to ensure that we have the best content quality.”
Additionally, Maloo said that his group was setting up a cinema division as well and would be producing movies with select directors. Part of that initiative has already started with the Director’s Cut series beginning on DD Metro wherein cinema makers are being called in to make movies for television.
Maloo added that he was also looking at launching a channel or putting together a DTH platform – in contrast to what his co-promoter Mahendra Nahata told indiantelevision.com (see earlier story HFCL offers set top box in November) – or broadband streaming over the Internet.
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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.
