News Broadcasting
Sahara Samay Mumbai to target women in afternoon band
MUMBAI: While other players in the news genre are haggling over male eyeballs, Sahara Samay is looking towards roping in women and children to broaden its viewership.
Going against the grain, Sahara Samay Mumbai has set out plans to buttress its afternoon band. Starting Friday (12 January), the still-in-test-phase news channel will roll out programmes which offer a viewing option to women, for whom the afternoon is a “compulsory watch” segment.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, Sahara Samay Mumbai head Rajiv Bajaj offered, “It is common knowledge that the afternoon band from 1:30 pm to 5 pm is a time when women and school going children tune in. We are not looking at an alternative audience but are targeting the same audience tuning in to mass entertainment channels.”
Stree Samay is the first programme targeting women that will roll out. The programme will be a series of 15 minute segments interspersed with news updates. The show, according to Bajaj, will offer women with information on health, hygiene, child-care, how to plan their day, where to shop, and other such information.
Following Stree Samay is School Samay targeting pre-teens, which will comprise education based interstitials.
“We will within a few weeks debut Fashion and Retail Samay. A unique programme, it is unlike any other fashion programme. It will offer comprehensive information about the fashion industry, the glamorous and the technical aspects of it,” offered Bajaj.
Says Bajaj, “Once the afternoon band is in place, we can command a continuous viewership throughout the day. Following the afternoon band, we have a teen band already on from 5:30 to 7:30, immediately followed by my show.”
Bajaj said that the channel should be ready with a comprehensive promotional plan within a fortnight. Titled “Celebrating Mumbai”, the on-ground and on-air blitz would be a gala affair that would celebrate Mumbai and all the elements that constitute India’s commercial capital, says Bajaj.
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.
