News Broadcasting
IBN7’s Independence Day special
MUMBAI: As the nation gears up for the 68th Independence Day, IBN7, the channel of Impact comes up with an array of special programming to denote this special Day. With Narendra Modi’s pledge to clean the Ganga, all the focus is now on the desecrated and polluted holy river. This Independence Day, IBN7 will bring to its viewers seven hours of extensive programming solely dedicated on river Ganges, an exclusive initiative taken by any news channel till date.
The Independence Day special programming on IBN7 will start early morning with the live coverage of Prime Minister Modi’s address to the nation direct from the Red Fort. An eminent panel of guests in the studio will discuss and scrutinize this much anticipated speech which is likely to be Modi’s first address to his countrymen since he became the Prime Minister. From 12 noon till 7pm in the evening, the channel’s entire focus will be on Ganga. The long 7 hours of programming will highlight the plight of the holy river. IBN7’s OB vans will be stationed at various banks of Haridwar, Kanpur, Varanasi and Ganga Sagar in West Bengal. The channel’s reporters will do on-ground reporting from there and try talking to the localities aiming to showcase the horrifying condition of the sacred river and its banks. The reporters will also be joined by local activists, environmentalists, priests along with an elite panel of guests at the studio, who will try to analyze the various aspects of River Ganga and nuances related to this issue.
At 7.30 PM, the last episode of Saving the Ganga series will culminate with a half hour special followed by another special show on Ganga where the experts will share their insights on the concern. From 9 pm onwards, the channel will discuss the PM’s speech and its significance in detail.
Don’t miss the day-long Independence Day special programming, on Friday, 15th August, starting 7.30 a.m. only on IBN7.
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. AICC’s Praveen Chakravarty weighs ‘Power Sharing vs Principles’, while former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joins the fray. 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.
