News Broadcasting
Sahara Samay-Mumbai may launch officially in a fortnight
MUMBAI: Sahara Samay-Mumbai, Sahara Group’s western India-specific news channel, may formally launch in two weeks time, informs channel head Rajiv K Bajaj.
The channel began its test run on 26 September and has been tweaking itself ever since.
“Precisely,” Bajaj says, “we have to settle some distribution problems and technical glitches. Once that is done, we will go on air officially.”
Meanwhile, as a part of its programming initiative, Sahara Samay-Mumbai last week launched the RKB Show – Bajaj’s trademark programme – which takes the viewers live to various parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa and tackles on-going social issues.
The three-hour-long RKB Show, which according to a company release is considered the channel driver – is telecast at 7.30 pm everyday.
Besides live coverage, the programme, anchored by Bajaj, brings together celebrities and the common man in Western India and hosts interviews at its studios.
Bajaj says, “We usually take up a raging issue, invite about five to six guest to our studio, hold discussions and try to arrive to a practical conclusion. The latest issue we dealt with was the stamp scam case – we even spoke to deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal on the issue.”
RKB Show has already featured people like Shekhar Suman, Mallika Sarabhai, Suresh Dada Jain, Kripa Shankar Singh, Ranjit Deshmukh, Dewang Patel, Dr Ronu Mazumdar, Amitabh Dayal, Divya Datta and Pinky Advani among other celebrities.
Bajaj says, he began is ‘RKB journey’ with his column, RKB’s the Good, the Bad, the Ugly in the Daily newspaper. “Then when I joined the channel In Mumbai, I started with the RKB Show and brought it with me to Sahara also.”
Other shows in the channel include back-to-back news bulletins beginning with the main Mumbai News Bulletin and special reportage from other centres including Pune, Nagpur and Ahmedabad.
As for the shows Bajaj says, “We are only following the direction of our chairman to provide solutions instead of just focusing on problems.”
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.
