News Broadcasting
Indian broadcasters can target NRI in a better way: Eutelsat
New Delhi: The combined figure of non-resident Indians (NRIs) pay-TV subscription households from the Gulf region and Europe will definitely pale in comparison to the estimated figure for pay-TV households in India (based on assumption that NRI total households are mere 850,000, mere 13 per cent of Indian TV households).
Considering this, broadcasting outside India might not seem to be an attractive proposition.
But European satellite operator Eutelsat seems to be gearing up for tapping this opportunity.
In his presentation during the 12th Convergence India international conference, companys regional director, Middle East, Asia and Scandinavia, Jan Grondrup-Vivanco highlighted the broadcasting opportunities outside India.
In his ‘widebeam vs superbeam for DTH broadcasting’ presentation, Vivanco said that the widebeam (which is an inter-regional beam in comparison to superbeam which is only a concentrated beam in a particular area), is ‘technically feasible and financially desirable’.
Elaborating on wider financial implications, terming its as ‘back of the envelope calculations’, with Indian TV households base of 65 million (however this assumption on actual households in India) in comparison to 0.85 million households for NRIs from Europe and the Middle East, Vivanco assumed maximum penetration for pay TV in India to be 20 per cent and for NRI-based households to be 30 per cent.
“If potential market for India is 13 million and pay package is 2.6 Euros, then revenues on annual basis would be 405.6 million Euros. In comparison to 255,000 NRI households with pay package of 30 Euros, the revenues on annual basis would be 91.8 million Euros. The assumed margin for Indian broadcasters would be 5 per cent while for NRI segment it would be 70 per cent. So even with 50 times less subscribers, margins are 3 times higher,” said Vivanco.
Citing the example of Filipino channel ABS-CBN in Europe and the Middle East, he said that there is an opportunity for broadcasters/content producers with great savings via widebeam. “AB3s widebeam footprint closely matched the regions of Europe and the Middle East containing substantial Filipino population. By utlising AB3, ABS-CBN could cost effectively provide direct to home Filipino television and radio channels these to viewers from one orbital position and one satellite beam,” a consultant from ABS-CBN was quoted as saying in Vivancos presentation.
On ABS-CBNs reasons for moving to AB3 Widebeam, he said that it was driven by market expansion from the Middle East on LMI-1 to the Middle East and Europe on Atlantic Bird 3 (Eutelsats satellite).
“Further, there was the need to reach the large Filipino population in Europe and the Middle East. There are right issues to resolve as far content is concerned. There is favourable economics as overseas markets are premium markets. For instance, 1000 European subscribers can earn you as much as 20000 in Philippines!” he said
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
