News Broadcasting
ME Tablet sponsors Vande Mataram
NEW DELHI : HCL Infosystems Ltd. India’s premier services and ICT systems integration, distribution and Hardware Company has partnered with Aaj Tak, to sponsor Vande Mataram contest. Vande Mataram is a show which instils patriotism, brings to life the untold stories behind many wars that India fought and to honour the lives of the soldiers who fought for our motherland. Aired from 14th September onwards to 30th November at 10PM, Vande Mataram will pay tribute to the martyrs and unsung war heroes who had put their lives at stake for the nation. In addition, every episode gives an opportunity to five lucky viewers who stand to win HCL ME Tablets. A viewer needs to answer a simple question asked by the anchor and SMS their response (VM A,B,or C) to 52424
On the sponsorship agreement, Gautam Advani, Global Head, Mobility Business Unit, HCL Infosystems said, “This is a great initiative by Aaj Tak team and partnering with Vande Mataram is a moment of pride. ME Tablet has always stood by and commended such initiatives. Our brand is all about change and being an enabler. We believe that through such associations we would be able to strengthen the social fabric of the country. ME Tablets has joined hands with Aaj Tak for this great initiative and hopes that it will bring about a change in the way the whole country looks at the sacrifices made by our Defence Forces.”
Vande Matram is a weekly show which will be aired on every Saturday at 10PM. Anchored by noted actor Kabir Bedi along with voice over narration by actor Raza Murad, it promises to take the viewers to the depth of India’s war stories and will get the audience to experience the patriotism, battles and victories by taking them to a different era.
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.
