News Broadcasting
Star, Sony in a hot fray for Disney
Is Disney getting into the Indian market? We have been hearing reports that the company is in conversation with Star TV to distribute the channel in India. Star TV is believed to be open to even holding back the launch of FoxKids in the Indian market for Disney’s sake.
Apparently, Sony has also thrown its lot into the fray though senior officials within Sony deny it. Sony is looking to create a bouquet which will rival the offerings of Star TV and Zee TV and is hence hungry to strike a deal. But what could queer the pitch for Sony is the partnership between ESPN – owned by Disney – and Star for their sports channels in India, ESPN and Star Sports. On that record, Star TV looks set to get the mandate to distribute the channel in India.
Disney has been known to blow hot and cold on India. In the mid-1990s it was all ready to storm Indian TV screens but decided against it as it felt that pay television revenues were not worth the effort and that the market had not matured enough for tiered television. Then a year ago it announced that it would not like to miss out on the Indian market which was growing rapidly. And hence dialogue commenced once again. Disney has a cursory presence in India with branded programming blocks on DD, Zee TV, among others. Disney is looking hot once again. But who knows when it will rurn cold.
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.
