News Broadcasting
HistoryTV18 to premiere ‘India: Marvels & Mysteries’ on October 17
MUMBAI: In a new five-part original series, HistoryTV18 brings viewers remarkable stories of ancient and medieval India. The fifteen stories take the viewer back in time, to some of India’s unique historical locations, many of which are designated UNESCO world heritage sites. The series spotlights fascinating aspects, little known facts, places and people. It also lifts the veil on a selection of unexplained mysteries and unsolved riddles that are part of India’s awe-inspiring heritage.
The gripping episodes use lavish dramatic recreations, factual rigour and top-end production values to provide glimpses of lost civilisations, great empires, powerful dynasties and amazing historical figures. The series traverses a vast geographic expanse, from remote Himalayan heights, through wild central India to the ancient South Indian peninsula. Its timeline stretches back millennia, beyond recorded history and into the mists of the Stone Age.
‘India: Marvels & Mysteries’ is an immersive and transportive experience with genre-leading storytelling at its heart. It tells stories that thrill, surprise and move the audience, in a quest to unearth the treasures and rediscover the wonders of India’s incredible past. It goes where most storytellers have not, in search of compelling narratives and new perspectives. It raises unasked questions in search of answers that have eluded generations. For in seemingly simple questions, lie the beginnings of a true understanding of our past. Cameras go behind glorious exteriors and beneath the spectacular halls of iconic landmarks, to reveal secrets, lost legends and whispered tales. Scholars and experts provide insights that are set to carefully craft the scenes that play out on screen.
Each episode comprises compelling stories that stay true to a theme. Each story explores a subject based on a historical finding, site or structure that has more to it than meets the eye. In one story, HistoryTV18’s crew filmed the unexplained markings inside the Dar Ki Chattan cave in Central India. One of the world’s oldest settlements, perhaps from a time before Homo Sapiens walked the Earth, it was first discovered by a local school headmaster. The find has led some experts to re-evaluate the origins of early humans in the subcontinent. In another story, the show explores the mystery suHistoryTV18rrounding Mughal Empress Mumtaz Mahal’s original burial site, where she was interred initially, decades before the Taj Mahal was built. Viewers will time-travel to the dense forests of Sarnath, where the Buddha first spoke of Dhamma. They will follow a medieval caravan to the highest fortress on Earth. They will discover how a celebrated Indian archaeologist turned a gigantic jigsaw puzzle of shattered stones, into a spectacular temple complex, with help from the dreaded dacoits of Chambal. The series is packed with astonishing facts and anecdotes. It’s a celebration of the marvels of antiquity that have stood the test of time and still take your breath away. It is a showcase of India’s riches and her people’s exceptional ingenuity, innovation and artistry through the ages.
‘India: Marvels & Mysteries’, is ground-breaking factual entertainment and provides a new vantage point to view the stories of India, from its long, often tumultuous but rich history.
Avinash Kaul, MD A+E Networks | TV18 and CEO Network18 said, “At HistoryTV18, we've always delivered best-in-class factual content and compelling stories that are engaging and relevant for our viewers. ‘India: Marvels & Mysteries’ is truly a path-breaking series that showcases ancient Indian wisdom, reveals secrets behind advanced technologies long lost, and celebrates the glories of the incredible history of India.”
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to air live counting day coverage for five state election results on May 4
The channel is rolling out its biggest election coverage machinery yet for results day on 4th May
NOIDA: The votes have been cast. Now comes the reckoning. CNN-News18 is pulling out all the stops for results day on 4th May, when counting begins across five battleground states — West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry — in what promises to be one of the most closely watched electoral verdicts in recent memory.
The channel’s coverage, titled Battle for the States: The Verdict, kicks off at 7am and runs through the day across linear TV, connected television and YouTube. It is the culmination of CNN-News18’s multi-format editorial initiative, Battle for the States, which has tracked the polls from the beginning under the theme Road to Power.
At the operational heart of the coverage will be the Live Results Hub, the channel’s central command centre built to collate, verify and process real-time data flowing in from reporters stationed at counting centres across constituencies. The hub combines newsroom intelligence, analytics and on-the-ground reporting to deliver what the channel promises will be the fastest and most accurate results coverage in English news.
Leading the on-air charge will be primetime anchors Rahul Shivshankar, Anand Narasimhan, Aman Sharma, Nabila Jamal and Shivani Gupta. They will be joined by a wide panel of commentators including author Chetan Bhagat; GVL Narasimha Rao, senior leader of the BJP; Smita Prakash, editor of ANI; activist Saira Shah Halim; political analyst Sumanth C Raman; Abhijit Iyer Mitra, senior fellow at IPCS; Amitabh Tiwari, founder of VoteVibe; columnist Abhijit Majumdar; Nalin Mehta, managing editor of MoneyControl; political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla; senior journalist Subir Bhaumik; and political analyst Manojit Mandal.
Shivshankar, who serves as editorial affairs director at CNN-News18, set out the stakes plainly. “Counting day is one of the most watched events in the electoral cycle, where speed and credibility are tested in real time,” he said. “Battle for the States: The Verdict is built on that promise, combining ground reporting, sharp analysis and cutting-edge election technology to give viewers the clearest and fastest route to the verdict. On May 4, CNN-News18 will once again be the nation’s most trusted channel to witness democracy in action.”
Smriti Mehra, chief executive of English and Business News at Network18, framed the coverage in broader terms. “Elections are defining national events, and audiences turn to brands they trust in moments that matter,” she said. “CNN-News18 has consistently led from the front in every election coverage, and this special programming reflects the scale of our ambition and editorial strength.”
The channel has form here. It claims to have been India’s most preferred English news destination for election results for the past 20 years, covering everything from the 2024 general elections to the Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar and BMC polls on the back of what it calls an “Always First, Always Right” record. Five states, one day, and a nation waiting for answers. The clock starts at 7am on 4th May.
