News Broadcasting
Star Plus, 3 other network channels launch in the US
MUMBAI: Star has finally launched in the US on the News Corp controlled DirecTV platform.
Alongside flagship channel Star Plus, the three other channels that launched are newest kid on Star block Star One, Hindi news channel Star News and Tamil language entertainment channel Star Vijay, Sameer Nair, Star India COO, confirmed to indiantelevision.com.
Nair said the four channels started beaming into the US from 2 November.
With this latest initiative, Star’s “Indian channels” have now become available in Asia, Middle East, United Kingdom and the USA.
Commenting on the US launch of the network’s news channel, Star News CEO Uday Shankar stated, “We are extremely proud to be India’s first and only global news channel catering to the Indian diaspora spread across the globe.”
Meanwhile, the decks appear to have been cleared for the official re-entry of the Star channels into neighbouring Pakistan. That they are already available in most Pakistani C&S homes that can afford them is of course another matter. According to a report put out last Saturday by Pakistani daily The News, the country’s information ministry has sent a formal summary to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s office, seeking his approval to grant permission to Star TV channels.
The report said that with rumours of relaxation of the ban, several cable TV operators in Islamabad have already begun (openly instead of clandestinely) telecasting Star Plus and Star Utsav channels.
The justification for the lifting of the ban on Indian channels that has been in force since 2001 specifically and only for the Star Network channels. According to Pakistan’s information ministry, an exception can be made in Star’s case as it is a non-Indian multinational media group.
A rather strange argument to say the least, if one were to take into consideration the fact that the ban on Indian channels came into being to protect Pakistani television from being “overwhelmed” by Indian offerings. And that applies far more to a Star Plus than a Zee TV, for which the ban recommendation stays.
And why wasn’t Sony Entertainment TV India accorded the same benefit as Star since it is also “a non-Indian multinational media group”? Well, Sony didn’t push for it unlike Star which lobbied strenuously to get the permissions, is the reasoning offered by sources who have been following the developments.
The formal request for distribution and marketing of Star channels in Pakistan was made by SATSTAR Media, a wholly owned subsidy of the Star Group.
The ministry has sought the required permission to be granted to the channel by changing the existing policy, The News has reported.
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.
