News Broadcasting
NBC to maintain ‘Law & Order’ situation
MUMBAI: Fresh of the back of acquiring Universal, NBC and NBC Universal Television have completed a multi-tiered agreement with Wolf Films and executive producer Dick Wolf. This will extend Wolfs deal for his three Law And Order shows until the end of July 2008
Wolfs three NBC shows are Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent . In India the second one is currently airing on Star World. Filmed in New York it chronicles the life and crimes of the elite Special Victims Unit of the New York Police Department. The show follows detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni), a seasoned veteran of the unit and his partner, Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), also a longtime detective in the unit. Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Ice-T, B.D. Wong and Diane Neal also star.
There is more good news for fans of the franchise. The agreement has added a fourth brand Law & Order: Trial by Jury for the 2004-05 season. The latest spin on the increasingly complex and controversial American legal system is set entirely in the arena of the courthouse.
Wolf added, “Ive been on the air at NBC continuously for the past 20 years and this new deal means that I could be as lucky for the next 20. Synergy has become an overused word, but the concept of a true partnership never goes out of style. I couldnt possibly have a better team than Bob, Jeff, Randy and Kevin to help me maximise the potential of the brand.
The deal means that Law & Order will have a 15th and 16th season. Likewise, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is assured of sixth and seventh seasons. The third member of the franchise Law & Order: Criminal Intent is currently in its third season and has been picked up for a fourth and fifth season.
NBC issued a release claiming that all the franchises were faring well in the ratings. On Wednesdays Law & Order is one of televisions top-four dramas among adults 18-49 for the fourth-consecutive season and is winning its hour by a 35 per cent margin. On Tuesdays, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has improved the time period by 26 per cent versus last season in 18-49 and claims to have won the hour with each of its last 24 telecasts.
On Sundays Law & Order: Criminal Intent is undefeated against regular competition this season in 18-49 and is the only NBC regular series to win this time slot in the last eight seasons.
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.
