News Broadcasting
Sahara Samay launching three new shows post-elections
MUMBAI: After putting into effect some human resource reorganisation, Sahara Samay has readied to launch three programmes that have been conceptualised on tried and tested formulae. The three shows go on air after the assembly election results are out.
Sahara Samay Rashtriya, the national news channel of the group, is planning to introduce a show called Crime and Punishment (not a serialisation of Fyodor Dostoevskys classic it needs noting), a crime-based show to be produced by Suhaib Ilyasi who shot to fame after Indias Most Wanted on Zee TV.
Though Sahara’s Crime and Punishment is not about young man Raskolnikov’s journey through insanity and the lives affected by it,Ilyasi would attempt to cover high profile crime cases delivering true tales.
For example, one of the episodes explores the gruesome murder of a Delhi woman, Naina Sahni, allegedly by her employer-cum-friend Sushil Sharma, a small time Congress politician, in 1995. The case came to be known as the `Tandoor case’, taking its name from the big earthern oven (tandoor) often used by hotels, in which Sahni’s body was roasted
Realising that crime shows do rock the charts, Sahara Samay is employing Ilyasi’s services for the show. However, because of an existing contract that Ilyasi has with Rajat Sharma’s India TV, he would not anchor Crime and Punishment.
What with everybody talking cricket these days, including the Courts, Sahara Samay is also looking at roping in former flamboyant cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan for a cricket show. Former Indian cricketers Ajay Jadeja, Kirti Azad and Ashok Malhotra will appear in pre and post-match highlight shows for the one-day internationals to be played between Pakistan and India in March and April.
And with NDTV having made a success of satirical programmes like Gustakhi Maaf, using puppetry, Sahara Samay, too, is looking at introducing Cartoon Show to provide relief to viewers.
This programme will air before or after the breaks at prime time hours only. The bi-weekly 10-minute show, with two repeats, will showcase caricatures of an invited guest and include segments like profiles of top players in politics and sports. The show wil be hosted by Delhi-based cartoonist Irfaan.
In an another development, Sahara’s various region-specific channels are creating a business time band that will air at 7 pm or 7:30 pm from mid-March. As there are a plethora of news channels carrying information on the stock markets, Sahara channels will concentrate on small towns and businesses that affect the lives of people living in such places.
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.
