News Broadcasting
News First enters Year 3 with a New Tagline, ‘Fearless…For You’
Mumbai: When News First started on 20 September 2020, it was the most extreme challenging times one can imagine.
Started in the midst of Covid Phase 1.
Welcomed without BARC ratings within 4 weeks of launch.
Embraced by Covid Phase 2 soon after.
The rollercoaster in the first 18 months didn’t deter News First.
When the ratings eventually were restored, News First had broken into the Top 5. No mean achievement given the once in the many generations obstacles upfront.
News First had made a name for itself in super quick time with exclusives not seen in Karnataka.
This includes political breaks, programming innovations like AI MAYA, high impact investigations like Murugasri Scandal (the notorious religious head) – which no one dared pursue, World Exclusive interview with KGF director Prashant Neel, Getting Karnataka’s most famous TV legal eagle, TN Seetharam to host a weekend show on the channel – for the First time on Indian News Television …the list goes on.
Today, News First has become the channel of choice for Politics, Cinema and Cricket.
The channel is in the Top 3 in a number of markets, in reach and time bands. The brand is amongst the leaders on outube and Facebook too. Three years after being every moment for the people of Karnataka, News First is making a departure.
The channel is embracing the a new tagline, Fearless… For You.
Speaking about this MD & CEO S Ravikumar said, “Every moment in our three year journey was about dare and care. This is evident in the number of news breaks we dared to do and the number of stories for the people we carried. We felt the time was right to translate our actions into our brand messaging. The existing tagline shows our softer version. The new tagline adds aggression to the softness.”
Editor in chief Maruthi SH said,“Our dares and cares have always been for people in need. But the dares have extended to exclusive shows, exclusive interviews, exclusive concepts and celebrating other achievers’ dares. To that extent, dare has a whole wide range of meanings for us at News First”
Business head S Divaakar said, “Our news content was always our forte. People have helped us grow steadily. The market is seeing it week on week. My team is looking forward to surge with the aggressive new intent of the brand.”
A new year, a tagline, with new intent.
News First surely has stood the test of challenging times.
The times ahead will show how far they can go from the current position of strength.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
