News Broadcasting
CNN revisits the devastating Asian Tsunami one year on 25 December
TSUNAMI: ONE YEAR AFTER
Airtimes: Indian Standard Times
Sunday, December 25 at 19:00hrs
Monday, December 26 at 10:00am and 20:00hrs (replays)
Tuesday, December 27 at 10:00am (replays)
VOICES FROM THE TSUNAMI
Airtimes: Indian Standard Times
Saturday, December 24 at 18:30hrs
Sunday, December 25 at 09:30am (replay)
Hundreds of thousands died and hundreds of thousands remain homeless in thirteen countries one year after one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in history swept through South Asia. On December 25 and 26, CNN International broadcasts “TSUNAMI: ONE YEAR AFTER” to report on the issues raised in the aftermath of the tsunami as well as updating some of the key stories which touched the world in the days and weeks following the devastation.
CNN correspondent Atika Shubert reports from the Indonesian province of Aceh where, to date, only one major project is underway. The Road to Meulaboh links the province’s west coast to the capital Banda Aceh. Shubert talks to the people and communities along the way in a bid to find out how long Aceh’s road to recovery will be.
In the face of adversity there were, however, some positive signs as Shubert reports on Intel’s contribution to help rebuild Aceh by providing wireless networks. CNN also examines how peace was brought to the region when Aceh’s separatist rebels signed a peace deal with the Indonesian government.
CNN’s Satinder Bindra reports from Sri Lanka where approximately U.S. $11 billion in pledges and donations was pledged. While some villages have fared reasonably well from such aid and have managed to rebuild their lives, CNN also looks at the other towns which haven’t fared as well. Bindra also meets ‘Baby 81’ a child who was claimed by many families as theirs; but was only reunited with his real parents after an agonizing wait and DNA testing.
For many in Sri Lanka, the train which was washed from its tracks killing 1,500 became a symbol of the nation’s grief. The rail service has now been restored and CNN will be taking a trip to meet a conductor who was on the line on that fateful day and who has returned to work on the same line since services were restored.
From India, CNN’s Ram Ramgopal looks at the plight of the children orphaned by the devastating tsunami. Have they been adopted or are they caught up in red tape? Ramgopal also looks at the success rate of a government post-tsunami program to reverse a birth control procedure carried out in Tamil Nadu—where at least 2,500 children perished in the natural disaster.
In Thailand, CNN’s Aneesh Raman reports from Bangkok and the popular tourist destination of Phuket where one hotel owner who lost his daughter in the disaster, is preparing to reopen for business. Raman will also take this opportunity to look into how the Thai government is trying to revitalize the island’s tourist industry.
Also reporting from Thailand is Kristie Lu Stout, where the American Aid Organization USAID works with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other geological agencies to plan an integrated tsunami warning network for countries surrounding the Indian Ocean who were affected by events which transpired on that day.
In addition to “TSUNAMI: ONE YEAR AFTER”, CNN will replay an updated version of last year’s special program ‘VOICES FROM THE TSUNAMI’. CNN’s Alex Quade reunites with three siblings who were orphaned after the tsunami destroyed their village located on Aceh’s coast. All that was left of their belongings was the motorbike they used to out-run the wave and the clothes on their back. Quade sees how these children have managed to survive the past year without their parents, their house and their belongings. Matthew Chance, Stan Grant and Mike Chinoy also provide reports on stories of life, love and loss from the stricken regions.
AIRTIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
