News Broadcasting
NDTV’s effort is noteworthy: media planners’ verdict
NDTV’s Jai Jawan with Aamir Khan has definitely created some interest in the media. So has Zee TV‘s Independence Day special film The Hero (Its Thursday premiere has been specially shifted to Friday to coincide with the I-Day). The rest, it seems, have not evoked enough appeal.
The indiantelevision.com team posed some questions to the representatives and spokespeople of advertising/media agencies. We present few reactions that indicate the kind of response that TV channel ad sales teams have managed to get for their I-Day offerings.
While playing a devil‘s advocate, Optimum Media Solutions senior VP Amit Ray says, “When everybody innovates it cannot be termed as innovation. Yes, the Aamir Khan programme Jai Jawan is unique. But most others are the same old ghisa pita ‘innovation‘. Personally speaking, buying any special event is a waste of money as there is no evidence that advertising during I-Day gets one either more audience or greater recall or both.”
WPP Media‘s director Sanjoy Chakrabarty agrees, “Channels are primarily offering movies that have been packaged differently. No one has come out with tailor made programming concept (except NDTV)!”
According to MindShare‘s Amol Dighe says, “We have not bought any special offering for 15 August. Yes, channels like Zee are offering creative programmes such as the screening of The Hero.”
Most agencies opined that the programmes are uncreative and most channels have just chosen the easy way out by telecasting movies. Madison Media‘s client services director Neelkamal Sharma says, “To the best of my knowledge, most of the channels are showing special movies on I-Day. These specials could either be big blockbuster or movies revolving around freedom struggles and patriotism or armed forces . Apart from this, there could be some greetings for the day and may be, some cosmetic changes visually in some anchor-based shows.”
MediaCom‘s media planning director Jyoti Bansal doesn‘t agree that the shows are drab. But she says, “Well, channels have come out with some interesting stuff but we haven‘t really bought anything in special for my set of clients.”
MediaCom associate media director (buying) Gracy Fernandes however adds that her clients are advertising in NDTV‘s Jai Jawan.
According to Starcom general manager (Investments and New Initiatives) Manish Porwal, southern channels seem to have done a better job for the I-Day special. “The nationalism plank seems be getting less of a hearing from clients and accordingly from media owners. As it is, the I-Day branding and other such propositions haven‘t really been explored by any channels except south and other regional channels. NDTV has come up with the Aamir proposition and several general entertainment and movie channels have looked at packaging movies in the month. However, it has by and large been the print community which has better explored the event and special advertising around it. No, we haven‘t specifically and strategically bought around the I-Day.”
Newly joined Starcom media director Srikanth Raman also echoes the above views and says that his team hasn‘t done anything specific for the day.
Some like Zenith Media India‘s media director SA Shetty however, vouch for the channels. Shetty says some channels such as Sony Entertainment Television have come up with innovative fare and should be applauded for it.
Part of the Lowe group in India, Initiative Media‘s media director Anita Kotwani says: “Jai Jawan on NDTV and the Zee TV movies package have been bought for our brands for Independence Day.”
Kotwani add, “Some of the interesting offerings from various channels for 15 August include:
1) The Jai Jawan special on NDTV with Aamir and Barkha Dutt.
2) Spot Buy association package on Zee TV with five titles The Hero/Gadar/Legend of Bhagat Singh/Krantiveer/ Tirangaa.
3) Raj TV has ‘Independence Day Mega Movies‘ while Jaya TV has special programming on that day with movies/interviews of film personalities
4) Zee MGM has a 11 am to 1 am fete of movies with titles like Birthday Girl/Serendipity amongst others
5) CCC has an Independence Day special with three titles Vijeta, Haqeeqat / Major Saab.”
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
