News Broadcasting
Trai may sue Sony Discovery & Zee Turner
NEW DELHI: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is contemplating legal action against One Alliance and Zee Turner for non-compliance of the regulator’s separate directives on restoring signals to cable operators.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com today evening, a senior Trai official admitted that taking legal action in a court of law is an option, which is “being studied” at the moment.
This has been necessitated as Trai cannot penalise in any way anybody for non-compliance of a directive of the regulator. “Because we cannot impose a fine or penalise errant parties, we have to seek help from courts,” the official said, clarifying that, however, legal succour has to come from courts other than a high court as it does not handle such cases.
Since Trai would have to move a court of law in the places where the incidents of disconnections have taken place — in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh and Kerala — it is expected to be a lower court.
“We also cannot put a time frame on taking up this legal option as certain internal procedures will have to be completed,” the Trai official said.
When contacted, SET Discovery president Shantanu Aditya declined to comment on the issue. Zee Turner was not available for comments.
While One Alliance, a joint venture between Sony and Discovery India, did not restore bouquet signals to a cable operator in Allahabad despite directions from Trai to do so, Zee Turner had moved TDSAT against Kerala-based MSO, Asianet. In both the cases signals have been blocked by the distributors owing to alleged outstanding dues.
In Zee Turner’s case, though TDSAT is hearing the disputed case, it has not stayed the Trai directive on restoration of signals, which has emboldened the regulator to propose legal cases against One Alliance and Zee Turner.
One Alliance has rushed to the Delhi high court challenging TRAI’s authority over financial matters.
Meanwhile, Trai has extended the transition period for another 60 days under Clause 3.7 of the Telecommunication (Broadcasting & Cable) Services Interconnection Regulations, 2004, which had been had been issued on 10 December, 2004. This has been done as a proposal had been received by Trai to this effect.
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.
