News Broadcasting
NGC to launch Nat Geo Junior from 24 January
NEW DELHI: First Discovery did it with its leisure and travel channel. And, now Nat Geo is doing it: use India as an incubating market to test out new ideas.
From 24 January, National Geographic Channel will be offering in India a dedicated kids block, called Nat Geo Junior, created specifically for children aged between seven and 14 years, which is a first in the history of company.
An excited NGC India senior vice president content and communication Dilshad Master told Indiantelevision.com today, “The whole globe and the NGC family is looking at us in India to see how this dedicated kids programming works out. It’s a big challenge for us.”
This new offering from National Geographic Channel — an hour in the evening on weekdays and 10 am to mid-day on Sundays — will include programming on animation, adventure, science and other topics.
Pointing out that an Indian success story “may result in its replication by NGC in other world markets,” Master said that advertisers have responded enthusiastically to this new idea that germinated about six months back.
Nat Geo Junior has been conceptualised and being put into action after extensive research on the evolving kids’ entertainment market in India. The new block seeks to provide a balance between high quality kids’ entertainment and an environment that encourages learning for young viewers.
Why has a kids block been brought on Nat Geo when there are already several high-profile channels catering to the target audience? “We felt that all other kids’ channels are operating in the entertainment space. Since we at NGC pride ourselves at providing an opportunity for fun, even while learning something, the new idea was given shape with ample backup from the parent company and research,” Master explained.
Adds National Geographic Channel India MD Zubin Gandevia, “Nat Geo Junior will open up a whole new viewing experience for kids in India. We recognise that television has taken a central role in kids’ lives and the new block will offer a unique platform where kids will have fun and learn at the same time.”
According to Gandevia, the new programming block will not only appeal to their viewers, but will also enhance their offering to their partners – advertisers and cable operators. The block, packaged especially for India, will offer a unique mix of internationally acclaimed shows like Backyard Science and the Serious series. For animation lovers, there is Doc Eurek- an animated series that brings alive inventions and inventors.
The Serious series – an international award winning series that is a trailblazer in children’s factual entertainment programming — will include Serious Desert, Serious Jungle and Serious Arctic. This series places confident youngsters in an extreme environment, where they are offered genuine and positive encouragement to learn and work on a worthy environmental programme..
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.
