News Broadcasting
Tara Marathi goes Hindi at primetime
Eternal Dreams, that took on the unenviable task of turning around Broadcast Worldwide’s Tara Marathi in March this year, seems to have found its forte.
Buoyed by the success of its distance education programme in cooking and baking that the company launched to target SEC B audiences two months ago, Eternal Dreams is now going Hindi in prime time. From 6.30 pm to 9 pm weekdays, the new look Tara Marathi will air distance learning shows in Hindi, imparting instruction in English speaking, customer relations, housekeeping as well as international cuisine. The move, says the channel management company, has been necessitated by an overwhelming response from viewers, particularly non Maharashtrians. The company is now negotiating with Doordarshan to air the series on DD Metro. If the deal is pulled off, says chief operating officer Bonnie Jain, the programme, that has taken up nearly 40 per cent of the channel’s programming budget, will be aired in Hindi on DD Metro and in Marathi on Tara Marathi.
Admitting that “it is a big risk” taking on mainstream entertainment channels at prime time with a distance learning show, Jain says the series is a “do or die” venture, a calculated risk aimed at weaning away viewers from the ubiquitous soap and slapstick comedy on rival channels. Eternal Dreams is also negotiating with a “major channel” in South India for broadcasting the series in Tamil, as well as with other channels in north and western India for dubbing in regional languages.
Tara Marathi, languishing at number four among Marathi channels, has seen a spurt in ratings since relaunching in March, with the distance learning programme contributing most to its revival, says managing director Sapna Chaturvedi. The channel has managed to rope in 40 clients with over 100 brands advertising on air, she says. The six week course in cooking and baking, which will shortly be repeated on air, is affiliated with the Indian Institute of Hotel Management and gives participants a certificate after a practical examination at the end of the course. The low cost vocational training has helped rope in the lower SEC B segment to the channel, says Jain.
Tara Marathi is also toying with the idea of teaming up with ministry of higher education and ITI (Indian Technical Institute) in offering distance learning courses in collaboration with the State. While ratings are yet to catch up with the leaders in the Marathi channel market, the channel is already firming up plans of its second round of fresh programming in August. While the channel is currently making do with re-runs of older serials and dubbed versions of mythos, 40 per cent of programming is fresh, says Jain. Comedian Laxmikant Berde will make his debut on the small screen with Lakshat Theva a slapstick show, while another show, Abhimaan Maharashtracha, will profile prominent young achievers from the state, including the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli. Vichitra, a “believe it or not” show will also take off on the channel by August.
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.
