News Broadcasting
WION launch now formal; lists marquee shows
MUMBAI: After its soft launch in August this year, Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) English News Network, WION – World is One News has now been formally launched. Its formal launch with is followed by rolling out of a major marketing campaign aptly titled WION – Be One With the World.
The editorial team consists of experienced journalists, researchers and analysts with global exposure. With bureaus in 37 global locations, WION has international reach and multi-cultural staff adding local perspective to every global news story. WION is the first India based network to have its presence in regions like UK, USA, China, Russia and Africa making it South Asia’s first truly convergent, multi-media English News Network.
“A revolutionary product from the Zee Media stable, WION represents a sophisticated transition from the usual ‘Breaking News’ phenomenon. WION brings exclusive and insightful content that often escapes popular media. Targeting upscale viewers in India as well as the Indian diaspora, our endeavour is to showcase content that truly represents the spirit of South Asia with focus on India. Embracing our philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The World is My Family’, through WION we believe that news will be the common thread that binds us all together,” said ZMCL executive director and COO Rajiv Singh.
The multi-city campaign will take off across various platforms including television, print, Rradio, OOH, DTH and digital. Leveraging the network strength, WION will further amplify its launch through a roadblock on more than 40 channels of ZEEL and ZMCL on 9 December. Phase I of the marketing campaign will focus on the India market, and it will gradually extend to other markets across the world in Phase II.
WION is a global news network that brings news from around the world but with a South Asian view. The goal of the channel is to engage and empower viewers through balanced and extraordinary storytelling. The channel aims to explore and understand the stake of South Asian region in world affairs by pushing the boundaries of innovation on digital, mobile and television platforms.
WION editor-in-chief Rohit Gandhi added, “In an increasingly divided and violent world, the content at WION is carefully curated keeping in mind the sensitivities of all regional identities. While the news genre already has different filters – American, British and Middle-East, there is no South Asian lens that helps the world understand the South Asian perspective on world affairs; WION aims to bridge this gap. WION targets a generation that is global, social, value-oriented, visual and technologically savvy. We tell stories relevant to a wider global audience and to the millennial generation that consumes news on the go. The news at WION is easy to consume without sacrificing in-depth analysis of issues.”
Gandhi further added: “While neutrality is journalism’s prime directive, and nothing comes between that, our TV and web platforms do have separate places set aside to foster positivity and inspiration culled from real life. WION Edge and Konversation are online series for sharing positive stories of people from India and around the world. On TV, whether it’s the on-location reporter, our anchors or guests, the conversation is always calm and orderly, with everyone given a chance to speak.”
WION offers an experience that is beyond news. It has a variety of content appealing to both younger and mature audience. WION will not only offer news, but also general entertainment content covering genres like lifestyle, human stories, animals, food, environment and fashion among others.
The presentation of content is innovative with use of visuals, timelines, graphics, on-ground live coverages, 360-degree interactive videos, flying drones and story app. The channel has interactive content to encourage participation from the viewer’s end. A big focus of the platform is on user generated content through its Citizen-Journalism App.
WION’s programming consists of a diverse line-up of shows from all genres. The shows on the channel comprise:
|
Name of the Show |
Description |
Anchors |
Timeslot |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Democracy & Dictatorship |
Strategy and political show |
Rohit Gandhi, Editor-in-Chief |
Every Saturday at 9 pm |
|
Tech it Out |
Technology & Lifestyle show |
Sahil Maniktala and Sejal Pandey |
Every Friday at 10 pm |
|
Unscripted |
Entertainment show |
Francesca Mascarenhas and Aaron Ian Lyngdoh |
Every Friday at 9 pm |
|
Gravitas |
Prime time News Bulletin |
News bulletins with invited guests |
Weekdays at 9 pm |
|
WION Wallet |
Business show |
Chaiti Narula |
Weekdays at 9.30 am & 5.30 pm |
|
WION Breakfast |
Morning Bulletin show |
Charu Sharma and Satyashree Gandham |
Weekdays at 8 am |
|
WION Sports |
Sports show |
Ayesha Sindhu |
Weekdays at 7.30 pm |
The channel is available across all DTH providers like Dish TV (#605), Tata Sky (#628), Airtel (#386), Videocon d2h (#367), Reliance BIG TV (#459) and all other leading cable networks.
News Broadcasting
Mihir Bhatt appointed as chief content officer at News18 Studios
The media veteran brings two decades of experience across television, digital and radio to one of India’s biggest broadcast networks, Disney+ Hotstar, Discovery+
NEW DELHI: Network18 has a new strategist in the building. Mihir Bhatt, one of Indian media’s more versatile operators, has joined News18 Studios as chief content officer, stepping into a role that will see him shape content strategy, build multi-platform properties and drive brand partnerships across the network.
Bhatt brings more than two decades of experience spanning television, digital and radio, with a track record of doing something rare in Indian media: combining editorial ambition with hard commercial results. At Times Network, where he served as managing editor and chief business officer of Times Influence, he built one of the industry’s more respected content studios, launching marquee properties such as the India Economic Conclave, the Times Now Summit and Leaders of Tomorrow. He also pushed the network into premium OTT territory through tie-ups with Disney+ Hotstar and Discovery+.
His resume stretches well beyond the studio. Bhatt has led Global Investor Summits for multiple state governments, worked alongside the World Economic Forum and played a pivotal role in launching the Indian Pickleball League. Earlier, as editor of Zee Business, he pioneered investor education initiatives that are still cited as industry benchmarks.
At News18 Studios, Bhatt will report to chief executive S Shivakumar and will oversee the studios execution vertical alongside revenue verticals covering emerging markets and campaigns. Sidharth Saini, Hemanth Kumar and Nimar Sarkaria will work under him.
Rahul Joshi, managing director and editor-in-chief of Network18 Group, made the announcement in an internal communication. “Mihir’s ability to build enduring brands, foster strategic partnerships and navigate a rapidly evolving media landscape will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our position and explore new avenues of growth in the Studios business,” Joshi said.
In a media industry lurching between disruption and reinvention, Network18 has bet on a man who has spent two decades thriving in exactly that chaos. Whether he can do it again, at greater scale, is the question worth watching.
