News Broadcasting
IBN7 revamps primetime with two mega shows as polls come closer
NEW DELHI: With the general elections round the corner, IBN7 is revamping its primetime programming with the introduction of two brand new shows with veteran journalists Vinod Dua and Sanjay Pugalia.
The new programming will mark the return of Vinod Dua in a special election show Vinod Dua Ka Prashnkaal, which will be the first fully interactive prime-time election show on any Hindi news platform. The host will give a platform to viewers to express themselves freely and participate in the election discussions.
The channel will put out a “Topic of the Day” for a fixed time during the day, inviting viewers to call in with their views and questions. Questions would also be taken from Twitter, Facebook and the channel’s website – IBNKhabar. Additionally, the channel will also integrate a distinct video element called “Open Mike” which will allow on-camera views and questions on the day’s topic. Vinod Dua Ka Prashnkaal will air every Monday to Thursday at 8 pm.
Another new prime time show, India 9 Baje, will go on air from 18 February every Monday to Friday at 9 pm, and will see Sanjay Pugalia do a round-up of the day’s major news stories. The show will follow a flexible format, primarily consisting of one big debate along with other stories of impact from the worlds of politics, sports, business, international and entertainment news. Sanjay Pugalia with his experience, credibility and vast knowledge of politics as well as political economy, will give viewers a rare combination of the two in his delivery of news.
Speaking on IBN7’s new prime-time line up, CNN-IBN and IBN7 MD Vinay Tewari said, “Elections are a complex, engaging and diverse event. It needs solid professionals who understand the complexities, who can simplify it for our audience and who believe in clarity over noise and sensation. We have brought in two of India’s leading journalists to take our primetime programming to the next level and who symbolise our beliefs about news. Vinod Dua, with his experience and unique style, is back to give viewers his take on the elections and engage them in our daily discourse while Sanjay Pugalia, whose understanding of politics and political economy is unparalleled, will debate and encapsulate the day’s major news on India 9 Baje.”
IBN Network Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, “We are looking at possibly the most crucial general elections in Indian history. And IBN7 is set to launch two new shows anchored by two of the most influential and experienced journalists in the industry. Amidst the furore of elections, our new prime time line-up aims to help our viewers understand the socio-political scenario better and enable them to make informed decisions. We believe that these shows will add immense value to our programming and enable our network to set the industry standard for years to come.”
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to air live counting day coverage for five state election results on May 4
The channel is rolling out its biggest election coverage machinery yet for results day on 4th May
NOIDA: The votes have been cast. Now comes the reckoning. CNN-News18 is pulling out all the stops for results day on 4th May, when counting begins across five battleground states — West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry — in what promises to be one of the most closely watched electoral verdicts in recent memory.
The channel’s coverage, titled Battle for the States: The Verdict, kicks off at 7am and runs through the day across linear TV, connected television and YouTube. It is the culmination of CNN-News18’s multi-format editorial initiative, Battle for the States, which has tracked the polls from the beginning under the theme Road to Power.
At the operational heart of the coverage will be the Live Results Hub, the channel’s central command centre built to collate, verify and process real-time data flowing in from reporters stationed at counting centres across constituencies. The hub combines newsroom intelligence, analytics and on-the-ground reporting to deliver what the channel promises will be the fastest and most accurate results coverage in English news.
Leading the on-air charge will be primetime anchors Rahul Shivshankar, Anand Narasimhan, Aman Sharma, Nabila Jamal and Shivani Gupta. They will be joined by a wide panel of commentators including author Chetan Bhagat; GVL Narasimha Rao, senior leader of the BJP; Smita Prakash, editor of ANI; activist Saira Shah Halim; political analyst Sumanth C Raman; Abhijit Iyer Mitra, senior fellow at IPCS; Amitabh Tiwari, founder of VoteVibe; columnist Abhijit Majumdar; Nalin Mehta, managing editor of MoneyControl; political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla; senior journalist Subir Bhaumik; and political analyst Manojit Mandal.
Shivshankar, who serves as editorial affairs director at CNN-News18, set out the stakes plainly. “Counting day is one of the most watched events in the electoral cycle, where speed and credibility are tested in real time,” he said. “Battle for the States: The Verdict is built on that promise, combining ground reporting, sharp analysis and cutting-edge election technology to give viewers the clearest and fastest route to the verdict. On May 4, CNN-News18 will once again be the nation’s most trusted channel to witness democracy in action.”
Smriti Mehra, chief executive of English and Business News at Network18, framed the coverage in broader terms. “Elections are defining national events, and audiences turn to brands they trust in moments that matter,” she said. “CNN-News18 has consistently led from the front in every election coverage, and this special programming reflects the scale of our ambition and editorial strength.”
The channel has form here. It claims to have been India’s most preferred English news destination for election results for the past 20 years, covering everything from the 2024 general elections to the Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar and BMC polls on the back of what it calls an “Always First, Always Right” record. Five states, one day, and a nation waiting for answers. The clock starts at 7am on 4th May.
