News Broadcasting
News channel Aaj Tak completes a year in operation
Exactly a year ago on 31 December, 2000, 24-hour Hindi news channel Aaj Tak was launched by India Today Group.
Today, the channel claims to enjoy a share of over 55 per cent in Hindi speaking markets within the news genre with viewers spending as high as 70 minutes weekly watching the channel. Aaj Tak CEO G Krishnan, said: “The viewership is a true reflection of the appreciation that we have received from the viewers & the advertising fraternity.”
As far as the advertising is concerned, one big success that Aaj Tak has chalked up is in managing to mop up a wide range of ads from players who were traditionally not known to set aside budgets for television.
The channel’s aim is to bring in-depth & incisive coverage to viewers and has listed the following events as being worthy of note:
On Republic Day (26 January) when the a devastating earthquake struck Gujarat it had round the clock coverage of the earthquake-ravaged state. A highlight was a unique platform – Meri Aawaz Suno (here my voice) – where people spoke their views and how their lives were affected.
In June it was in Nepal with extensive reports and analysis by teams stationed in the Himalayan kingdom when the Royal Nepali prince killed his entire family in a fit of jealousy.
During the Agra Summit the channel claims to have set up a team of 24 members to cover Pakistan President Musharaf’s visit to India. A correspondent was sent to Islamabad for the perspective on the summit from across the border.
Like other channels Aaj Tak kept the events of 11 September in focus. Aaj Tak claims to be the first Indian news channel to reach Afghanistan after US bombings commenced.
The channel claims that within half an hour of the 13 December terrorist attack on Parliament, it had the minister for parliamentary affairs Pramod Mahajan live from inside the Parliament on the line. This was followed by exclusive interviews of George Fernandes (defence minister) and information & broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj.
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.
