News Broadcasting
Is Aaj Tak going English or regional?
NEW DELHI: The information and broadcasting ministry has received an application from Aaj Tak for starting a news channel and seeking a no-objection for uplinking the channel from India. But there is a catch: the permission has been sought for a regional language news channel.
According to government sources, though many news channels have been proposed, in recent times one application that has come forth seeking various permissions from the I&B ministry, subsequent to which okays will be given by other government agencies and departments, is that of Aaj Tak, which proposes to start a regional language channel.
If government sources are to be believed, then Aaj Tak’s advertisement, which had been brought out in various editions of The Times Of India seeking candidates for various categories, including editorial, is for a regional channel, contrary to popular belief that the proposed news channel will be in English. The ad itself does not mention anywhere in the copy that the proposed channel will be an English one.
Aaj Tak’s application is being processed for necessary action to be taken on the request, sources say. Aaj Tak Hindi , launched end 2001, has emerged as a strong player in the news channel space and has also managed to dislodge Zee News, primarily catering to the Hindi speaking audiences in the country, from the top slot.
In an annual brand evaluation exercise, which is undertaken by business newspaper Business Standard and reported in today’s edition, Aaj Tak, occupying the third spot, is the only media brand to have figured amongst a host of FMCG and consumer electronics brand.
The government source also said that despite the hype, no application from Star India has come yet for their proposed news channel. Star’s five year content agreement with NDTV for content on Star News comes to an end on 31 March , 2003.
News Broadcasting
News18 India to air Sabse Bada Dangal on 4 May counting day
Channel promises fastest results, live trends and analysis across five states.
MUMBAI: Ballots will do the talking and screens will do the shouting. As counting day approaches for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, News18 India is gearing up for an all-day broadcast of its flagship election show, Sabse Bada Dangal, on 4 May from 6 am onwards. The Hindi news channel plans to deliver continuous, real-time updates as votes are tallied, combining live counting data with on-ground reporting and studio analysis. With political fortunes set to shift through the day, the coverage will track every swing, surge and surprise as trends turn into results.
The broadcast will feature a mix of senior political leaders, analysts and experts, offering instant reactions and decoding the evolving electoral picture. Expect heated debates, quick takes and detailed breakdowns as the numbers settle across all five states.
For News18 India, counting day has long been a high-visibility moment. The network is banking on its reporting reach, editorial bandwidth and technology-driven coverage to stay ahead in what is often a fiercely competitive news cycle.
With multiple battlegrounds and shifting narratives, the day promises both drama and data in equal measure. And if all goes to plan, Sabse Bada Dangal will once again turn the counting of votes into prime-time spectacle.
