News Broadcasting
TV Today applies for business channel uplink
MUMBAI: The Aroon Purie-controlled TV Today Network is back in the news after the launch of its Hindi news channel Tez. Hardly has the dust settled on the launch of Tez than it has sought uplink licence for yet another channel.
This would be the fifth from the stable. Government sources indicate that TV today is contemplating coming out with a business channel and the uplink licence that has been sought mentions that fact. The details of the proposed business channel have not been forthcoming however.
Before that though, there is the fourth channel from the stable that is awaiting entry into an increasingly crwoded news terrain. The fourth channel, which is expected to be a metro-centric channel, is targeting a December or early January 2006 launch.
Information and Broadcasting minstry sources have confirmed the developments to Indiantelevision.com.
At present, in the Hindi business news space, the already existing channels are CNBC Awaaz and Zee Business, while in the English space there is CNBC TV18 and NDTV Profit. What has yet to be identified is whether the proposed business channel will be attacking the English or Hindi news space.
As has been reiterated by various media analysts, every new news channel will have to carve out its own identity and uniqueness within the given space. This seems to be the mantra for TV Today Network as well.
News Broadcasting
UDF poised to return to power in Kerala, says Manorama-CVoter survey
Massive opinion poll projects shift in Kerala politics ahead of 2026 Assembly elections.
MUMBAI: The winds of change appear to be blowing through Kerala’s political landscape and this time, they seem to favour the United Democratic Front. A comprehensive mega opinion survey conducted by Manorama News in partnership with CVoter projects a potential comeback for the UDF in the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections 2026. The survey, covering all 140 constituencies with a massive sample size of nearly 90,000 respondents, predicts the UDF could win between 69 and 81 seats.
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is expected to secure 57 to 69 seats, a significant drop from the 99 seats it won in the 2021 elections. This would mean the LDF losing 30 to 42 of its sitting seats. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which drew a blank in 2021, is projected to open its account with 1 to 5 seats.
Region-wise, the UDF is expected to make strong gains in Malabar, winning 25 to 34 out of 48 seats, and in Central Kerala, where it could bag 29 to 33 out of 53 seats. In South Kerala, the LDF is likely to retain an edge with 21 to 25 seats, while the UDF may improve to 12 to 16 seats. The NDA could pick up 1 to 3 seats in the southern region.
The survey was conducted between 14 and 26 March 2026, with additional tracker and snap polls carried out from December 2025 to March 2026. A total of 89,693 respondents participated, ensuring representation across all demographics and social segments.
Manorama News has a strong track record of accuracy, with its previous projections closely matching the actual results of the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as the 2021 Kerala Assembly polls.
In Kerala’s famously fierce political battles, this survey suggests the pendulum may be swinging back. Whether the final verdict matches these numbers or throws up another surprise, one thing is clear, the 2026 Assembly elections are shaping up to be one of the most keenly watched contests in the state’s history.
