News Broadcasting
Star Gold frames high-voltage plan to take on rivals
MUMBAI: Showing aggresive intent, Star India’s Hindi movie channel Star Gold has an eventful August-September planned out. Taking off on the Nimbu mar ke campaign of 2002, this will be yet another high-decibel marketing blitzkrieg that the channel proposes to unleash.
Preceding the campaign will be the launch of its single-ad-break movies and the television premiere of a slew of hard-hitting Hollywood flicks dubbed in Hindi.
According to Star India senior V-P content and communications Deepak Segal, outdoor media and on air promotions will be used in a big way for the promotional campaign, apart from cross promotions.
“The channel took some time to come out of the black & white image. Now it is giving Max and Zee Cinema a run for their money. We have been in the second or third spot and for few weeks we even stood number one,” pointed out Segal.
The channel has picked the month of August to set the stage for an aggressive programming offensive. The channel is launching its single-ad-break movie segment Ek Baje Ek Break on 2 August with the movie Refugee in the 1:00 pm slot on weekdays.
Star Gold will also premiere dubbed in Hindi versions of Hollywood hits Gladiator, Jaws, The Rock and Kiss of the Dragon in August.
When queried on the channel opting for weekdays and the mid-day slot for its single break movies, Segal said they had a strong viewership for that slot.
“The advertising traffic on holidays is very hectic. For Ek Baje Ek Break,, the break would be after the first half of the movie. The whole idea is to give the viewer a feeling of watching the movie in a theatre,” Segal added.
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
