News Broadcasting
TV Today’s Delhi Aaj Tak likely to launch mid-May
MUMBAI: Amidst all the debate around uplink and downlink the Aroon Purie-promoted TV Today Network Ltd is set to launch yet another channel in an already cluttered news space. Launching some time in the middle of this month under the name Delhi Aaj Tak is a 24-hour news channel servicing the news needs of the national capital region (NCR) of Delhi.
Barring any technical glitches, the fourth channel from TV Today stable is expected to begin beaming by mid-May.
The channel will be headed by one of the old guard of the network Amitabh, who has been with the company for a decade, while the special project head for the channel is Alok Verma. Earlier, Verma was associated with Zee News as its editorial head and had done a stint with Star TV Interactive division in Bangalore, apart from having worked with other media companies at the national and regional levels.
But a senior executive of TV Today remained tightlipped about the progress of the channel and the launch date, stating that the channel launch will happen in May.
The channel, which received its uplink clearance in the last quarter of 2005, has been positioned on the plank of Delhi Aaj Tak: aapka sehar, aap tak (Delhi Aaj Tak: your city, up close). The team which will oversee the news channel is already in place, with a fresh pool of talent as well.
On the technical side, all the news channels from the TV Today stable (including the newest baby) are likely to shift their beaming base from Insat-2E to Pas-10.
Delhi Aaj Tak will have to battle for viewership with a host of news channels already catering to the NCR region. The players presently operating in this segment include Sahara NCR, S1 and Total TV. NDTV is also planning a new product to service the metros, including Delhi.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
