News Broadcasting
Zee Media rolls out the linear avatar of ZEE Kannada News
Mumbai: Zee Media, a news network in India, has announced the launch of Zee Kannada News linear channel, primarily focusing on unbiased reporting of news and hyperlocal content. With this launch, ZEE Kannada News looks forward to provide a nationalist view of daily news events to the widespread TV audience spread across the five divisions of Karnataka – Bengaluru, Belagavi, Mysuru, Ballari, and Kalaburagi.
The launch event of ZEE Kannada News linear channel was held in Bangalore. This on-ground event was graced by dignitaries like Nitte Santosh Hegde (Supreme Court (retd.) Justice, former Karnataka Lokayukta), Ba Ma Harish (President of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce), Bhaskar Rao (Former Police Commissioner of Bangalore) Abhishek Ambarish (Actor), Pragathi Shetty (Rishab Shetty’s wife) Aniruddha Jatkar (Actor)
Till date, Zee Kannada across digital platforms has been successful in comprehensive and unbiased news coverage on social, political issues along with entertainment programs from Karnataka, India and worldwide. Zee Media observed that content consumption patterns have been changing constantly. Around 90 per cent of video consumption happens in local languages in India, and 75 per cent of TV content is consumed in the Kannada language in the Karnataka market. Taking into consideration the market demand via successful programming across different platforms, Zee Media took a step forward toward capturing a larger viewership through the launch its linear channel.
The Zee Kannada News linear program package comprises of some of the interesting customized news and debate shows like:
1. DHARMASTALA (Will focus on the significance of main religious places in Karnataka)
2. VAARDA BHAVISHYA (Will focus on the weekly astrology)
3. SAMVAAD (Daily debate show)
4. CHITRAMANJARI (Will focus on interesting stories about the cinema industry) and many more.
Commenting on the remarkable achievement, ZMCL CBO Abhay Ojha, “Zee Media network continues to be the catalyst for change. We, at Zee Kannada, acknowledge the fact that there’s need for a voice that is unbiased towards the local political influences. The linear avatar of Zee Kannada will primarily focus on the informative aspect of hyper-local news in Kannada, thus becoming the voice of Kannada. Our entire team of reporters and producers aim to provide real-time analysis and produce inspirational stories about people, society and health.”
“Zee Kannada has been catering not only to urban cities but also believes in delivering news in the regional language of Karnataka. Taking into consideration the trust built by the channel and the increase in viewership via digital platforms, the linear launch is a strategic business move and generate cross-platform avenues. Being an election year, our goal is to become number one, in terms of revenue and 5X growth across the network,” added ZMCL marketing head Anindya Khare.
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.
