News Broadcasting
NBC to do interactive initiative to cross promote Olympics and ‘The Apprentice’
MUMBAI: US broadcaster NBC and Mark Burnett who created the business based reality show The Apprentice have joined forces to create a promotion for the show.
Viewers can vote on NBCOlympics.com for one of 12 US Olympians competing in the 2006 Olympic Winter Games to become a future candidate on season six.
For the first time in the history of the show Burnett has opened the casting to the viewers and at an Olympic level. NBCOlympics.com, America’s online home of the Torino Games, isl conducting the voting in conjunction with the Opening Ceremony and concludes after the Closing Ceremony on 26 February. The winning Olympian will join the other candidates in Los Angeles.
The host of The Apprentice real estate tycoon Donald Trump says, “We are thrilled to have an Olympian in our midst. And while we’ve let the viewers do a hiring…I’m still doing the firing. So we’ll let the Games begin this fall”.
Burnett says, “There is no bigger promotional platform than the Olympics. I am honoured that NBC is utilizing one of its most cherished and powerful assets to help drive buzz for ‘The Apprentice’ brand. This promotion marks the first time I’ve ever invited the public to select a cast member for one of my shows. Our ‘Olympic’ Apprentice coupled with filming in Los Angeles will make for a fantastic sixth season.”
NBC Olympics president Gary Zenkel says, “One does not reach the Olympic Games without enormous drive, perseverance, ambition and a willingness to take a risk; traits required of business leaders. We are excited to have NBCOlympics.com host the voting and to deliver the first candidate to season six of The Apprentice.”
The 12 athletes represent a variety of Olympic sports, from skeleton, snowboarding and ice hockey to speed skating.
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.
