News Broadcasting
Shakeup at Siticable
Siticable is going through a bout of restructuring what with Zee Telefilms chief executive R.K. Singh and president (distribution) Tony D’silva, putting their imprint on the MSO, which boasts a penetration of 5.5 million homes.
For starters, Zee Telefilms has restructured its distribution operations into four units – Siticable (distribution and development), Direct to operator (its digital bouquet package), ad sales, and Internet through cable.
Changes are taking place even as far as the people heading some activities is concerned. Hari Goenka, who headed Siticable’s northern operations for quite some time, has been shifted along with C.S. Arora, another senior executive into the HFC (hybrid fibre coax cable project). Sunil Khanna, who was heading ad sales for Siticable, for more than half a decade has resigned from the company. The company is on the lookout for a replacement.
The operations of the northern and central regions of Siticable have been merged into one with the regional director (north and central) being R. Marwah.
In the south, the operations have yet to be rationalised with two regional directors, one looking after Andhra Pradesh, one after Karnataka. The western region has D.K. Pandey, spearheading Maharashtra while A. Jain looks after Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. The company does not have a regional director looking after the west as a whole. Neither does it have one for the east. Again, efforts are being made to fill the vacancies.
Singh and D’silva will have to move fast just to stay in place. The reason: even rival Star TV has its eye on the same target, getting lots more cachet with Indian cable TV operators through distribution initiatives.
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.
