News Broadcasting
Zoom to launch ‘Levis Diva Quest’ on 21 October
MUMBAI: In line with the reality show craze on television channels these days, the Times Group’s glamour and lifestyle channel Zoom is launching a reality show the Levi’s Diva Quest.
The show has been introduced as part of the channel’s revamp strategy. Zoom is on the lookout for the most stylish anchor through the Diva Quest. It is also planning to launch a few more shows over the next one month.
“We are now poised to get into the next stage of our life cycle and there are a host of new initiatives both in terms of content and marketing slated to launch in October-November this year. Diva Quest is a stepping stone in that direction that we have taken,” says Zoom business head MK Anand.
The show has been introduced with an aim to hunt for the most stylish anchor for the channel. It would kick off on 21 October. It will be aired on Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm and will be hosted by ramp model Aparna Kumar.
This is not the first time Zoom is indulging in the area of glam and glitz. Earlier, it had launched in L’oreal Paris Elite Model Look India 2006, Pond’s Banungi Main Miss India and Red Hot Countdown.
The 15 shortlisted contenders will be scrutinized by a panel of judges including ace photographer Subi Samuel, makeover specialist and choreographer Achla Sachdev, celebrity tarot-card reader Sunita Menon, ad-man Prahlad Kakar and acclaimed TV host Mini Mathur.
From this lot, the contestants would further be wittled down to 10. The grand finale will be held on 29 October at the Intercontinental, Mumbai.
Talking about the unique selling point (USP) of the show photographer Subi Samuel claimed, “Like other shows, we are not overtaking their personalities and transforming them, we are just grooming them to be able to deal with the glitz and glamour”
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Kolkata Town Hall on Hooghly River
‘Bhalobasa Bengal Inspiring Bharat’ event on April 20 brings cultural icons, trailblazing women and leaders aboard a cruise to celebrate Bengal’s enduring influence.
MUMBAI: Bengal is about to make fresh waves on the Hooghly and this time the current is pure conversation. CNN-News18 is taking its iconic Town Hall format to the waters of the iconic Hooghly River on 20 April 2026 with a special edition titled ‘Bhalobasa Bengal – Inspiring Bharat’. The floating event will celebrate the state’s rich cultural legacy and how its ideas, creativity and spirit continue to shape the rest of the country.
The unique riverside setting draws on Bengal’s history as a cradle of reform, art and intellectual thought. The speaker line-up mirrors that diversity: cultural heavyweights Mithun Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar will share the stage with trailblazing “Devis” such as Tanya Sanyal (India’s first woman firefighter in aviation), Ipsita Chakraborty (Kolkata’s first woman bartender) and Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi (Nari Shakti awardee and marine pilot). Music will flow through the celebrated pianist-vocalist duo Sourendro and Soumyojit, while public life and governance will be represented by Smriti Irani, Leander Paes, Saira Shah Halim, Keya Ghosh, Rekha Patra, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director, Rahul Shivshankar, said the event honours voices that carry Bengal’s legacy forward. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that Bengal’s stories resonate far beyond its borders, especially as the state heads into polls.
From the first woman to battle flames in the skies to legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema, the gathering promises a rich mix of inspiration, courage and candid dialogue. In a city where culture has always flowed as freely as the river itself, CNN-News18 is turning the Hooghly into a floating forum for ideas that matter.
Tune in on 20 April on CNN-News18, CTV and YouTube to catch Bengal’s heartbeat in full flow.
