News Broadcasting
Micheal Grade appointed as BBC Chairman
MUMBAI: Michael Grade has been appointed BBC chairman in place of Gavyn Davies, one of the high profile heads to roll in the wake of the damning Hutton inquiry report.
Known as one of Britain’s most flamboyant and controversial media figures, 61-year-old Grade succeeds Davies who resigned in January after the Hutton inquiry report criticised the BBC’s handling of the row that led to the death of weapons inspector David Kelly last year.
Grade’s predecessor Davies was appointed on 19 September 2001 for a five year period from 1 October 2001. He resigned from the BBC on 28 January 2004. The Hutton report also led to the resignation of BBC director-general Greg Dyke.
Among the challenges Grade faces will be the hunt for a new director-general, restoring trust in the BBC, restoring the institution’s global reputation, leading new programming initiatives, clarifying BBC regulations, negotiating the BBC Charter and establishing a vision for the future.
Prior to this stint, Grade has had a long and distinguished career including leading roles in commercial television, the BBC, film and the leisure industries. In 1973, he became London Weekend Television’s head of entertainment and director of programmes. Later in 1978, he moved to the USA to become president of Embassy Television. He joined the BBC as controller BBC-1 in 1984 and became its director of programmes, Television in 1986.
He then spent nine years from 1988 as chief executive of Channel 4 Television. In 1997 he joined First Leisure Corporation, first as executive chairman and then as chief executive until 1999, says the release.
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.
