News Broadcasting
Hungama TV aims for August-September launch
MUMBAI: Hungama TV, the bilingual (Hindi and Tamil) kids’ channel floated by UTV, is now looking at an August-September launch. UTV CEO Ronnie Screwvala had earlier stated that the channel would begin airing by ‘a Sunday in August 2004’.
Hungama TV Captain Hunt to select the 20 kids who will eventually run the channel will culminate with a gala event in Mumbai on 14 August. Post-production work for the 21 shows selected by kids from the 60 projects, which had been commissioned for pilots, is underway. The channel will air shows on the 6 am – 12 midnight cycle with the remaining six hours having repeat telecasts.
At the venue of the channel’s TV Captain Hunt, Hungama TV COO Purnendu Bose spoke to Indiantelevision.com explaining the ideation and execution of the upcoming channel:
Programming strategy:
There will be adventure shows, puppet shows, movies, science fiction, comedy, and fantasy shows – all kinds of shows that appeal to our kids. The 60 pilot projects we had made was shown to around 7,000 kids across the country and they short listed 21 programmes. I won’t be able to give you the exact number of episodes completed, but I can say two or three episodes of each show have been canned till now. It is an ongoing process. There will be 18 hours of new programming and the remaining six hours will have these shows repeated.
Progress on the production front:
Post-production work of the episodes completed are going on now. Balaji Telefilms, Cinevistaa, Contiloe and UTV are some of the production houses involved.
Why have you decided to outsource some of your production?
We wanted to make use of a variety of sources. This gives us an opportunity to tap different domain expertise.
What is the remuneration you are offering to the 20 selected kids who will take charge as Hungama TV captains?
There won’t be any remuneration in terms of money. The whole exercise will give kids exposure and that much-needed confidence to face life. This will help them to be decisive, empowering them to build an overall character. This will be like an extra-curricular activity that makes them celebrities. This won’t distract them from their studies because we have latest technologies to communicate with them. Sitting in his house, the kid will decide what to go on Hungama TV.
About the recent exits UTV/Hungama witnessed. Who is replacing Shalini Rawla who quit as Hungama TV programming head?
At present, I am handling the additional responsibility. We have a 55 member-strong team and we are looking forward to more appointments. Irrespective of these resignations, we are very much on track.
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.
