News Broadcasting
‘Saara Akash’ continues to soar; gets year’s extension
MUMBAI: Will it or won’t it work? That was the niggling doubt when Saara Aakash, the show with an air force backdrop, debuted on Star Plus 7 August 2003 in the Thursday 9 pm slot.
Well, not only did Miditech’s Saara Aakash fare well (although after more than just a little tweaking of the original script) on the charts but it has been given another year’s extension.
“As of now, we are India’s No 1 weekly in the Hindi speaking markets. In the 9 pm band, comprising Kehta Hai Dil, Sanjeevani, Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand, we are clearly the leader. We are also ahead of Sony’s Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahi and Kkusum,” Miditech’s producer Nikhil Alva offered.
While the show might have an air force back drop, the real reason why the show is doing well, according to the makers, is the central character Monica. “In fact, we have this punch line ‘Hamari Monica Jassi Jaissi bilkul nahi’ (Our Monica is not like Jassi at all),” joked Alva.
“Thursday is a competitive slot. Most of the weeklies end the week on Thursday, so it is wasn’t the most conducive spot for the show. We have successfully fended the competition in that slot. Be it against Jassi.. . or the movie premiers. Our target audience belongs to 14+ brackets, both male and female. Somebody who is not interested in the family dramas, which is same as that of Jassi…,” Alva offered.
Despite the female protagonist, the show has a lot of aspirational value. So when the show, during its early stages, digressed on to a family track, the ratings dipped. “It was a bad judgment on our as well as the channel’s part. But the mistake was immediately rectified and we have been in the top 10 shows on Star Plus ever since,” insisted Alva.
What, according to the makers is the high point of the show is its theme, approach and most importantly, the characters.
“Monica’s character is such that the audience can empathise with. She is a bold woman in a man’s world. While she has her feminine side (she is every inch the ideal daughter), she is also driven by her mission so much so that she won’t hesitate to kill someone if the need arises. Meanwhile, Sanjana’s character is unlike any vamp that you see on the telly today. She is shown to be a school teacher, someone with a soft side. But despite that she is a ruthless spy. She has hers reasons to act the way she does. It is all about her love for her country, mission and the things that have happen to her in the past,” explains Alva.
While it is likely that Sanjana’s character will be exposed in the show and the makers might decide to introduce another negative character. One character that is going to make his entry back onto the series is that of Karan, played by Anuj Saxena. Playing on topical issues, Karan will be shown as a PoW, who makes a daring escape from the enemy dungeons.
“Despite the channel not as keen on the publicity and the promotional blitz, but the topical plot around espionage and the Indo-Pak milieu have received great feedback,” Alva exhulted.
Interestingly, the high point of the show has been the episode where the central character Monica was behind enemy lines. “We showed a 15-minute chase sequence, which traditionally no one would believe works. But it has given us 13.8-14 TRP rating,” gloated Alva.
But is there any likelihood that Monica might go the family way ever? “Highly unlikely,” says Alva. Maybe that’s for the best then.
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.
