News Broadcasting
NEC to sponsor CNN’s ‘Impact Your World’
MUMBAI: CNN International has announced that IT and network technology company NEC will sponsor its viewer response initiative, ‘Impact Your World.’ The sponsorship takes effect from September 2008 and encompasses new weekly on-air segments and vignettes across CNN International’s global network, reaching more than 230 million households and hotel rooms, in addition to the initiative’s web site at www.cnn.com/impact.
Impact Your World is CNN’s audience empowerment initiative, which allows CNN viewers and users to take action on and respond to the news they consume. With Impact Your World, news is no longer passive; ‘Impact’ buttons on selected CNN.com stories link people directly to resource pages showing how they can help charitable organizations in categories including Refugees & Homelessness, Poverty, Health and Natural Disasters.
In addition, new weekly on-air vignettes highlight stories that empower CNN’s global audience to effect real change. Natural disasters including Cyclone Nargis which hammered Myanmar and the devastating Sichuan earthquake have brought about immediate responses and donations. ‘Impact Your World’ also allows viewers to support individual causes.
CNN Asia Pacific VP ad sales William Hsu says, “We’re delighted to partner with NEC in this bespoke, cross-platform sponsorship that allows our viewers to enact positive change in the world. We look forward to delivering a powerful brand solution for them across this most worthwhile of initiatives.”
NEC GM advertising division Mikio Yamada says, “Throughout its history, NEC has continuously sought ways to contribute to society through technological innovation and advanced solutions. NEC is proud to sponsor CNN’s Impact Your World, which is an innovative way to empower individuals and societies around the world by connecting people and organizations”.
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.
