ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • Meenakshi Kandwal joins NDTV India to bring grit, grace and people-first journalism to primetime

    Meenakshi Kandwal joins NDTV India to bring grit, grace and people-first journalism to primetime

    MUMBAI: At a time when newsrooms race for views, NDTV has chosen to double down on values. The channel has welcomed seasoned journalist and anchor Meenakshi Kandwal to its editorial team, signalling a bold investment in purpose-led storytelling. The move underlines NDTV’s renewed focus on editorial clarity and integrity, where impact matters more than noise.

    Kandwal, known for her razor-sharp reportage and youth appeal, brings over 15 years of experience in television and digital journalism. From hosting marquee shows like Opinion India Ka on Times Now Navbharat to Aaj Subah and Ek Aur Ek Gyarah on Aaj Tak, she has built a career that balances wide reach with rare editorial conviction. Her audience spans platforms like X, Instagram and YouTube—where her authenticity cuts through algorithm fatigue.

    Her reporting often pushes beyond what’s trending. She once trekked through snow-laden terrain from Leh to Kargil to spotlight a lack of airport access in the region—not as a transportation gripe, but as a lifeline issue. “I want to see an airport before I die,” an elderly man told her. That quote, and the ensuing national conversation, reveal the ethos that drives her storytelling.

    “She brings a rare mix of depth, empathy, and editorial sharpness. Her field stories have already had a national impact”, said NDTV group CEO & editor-in-chief Rahul Kanwal.

    Kandwal began telling stories early—reading the morning news at school in seventh grade. She later became the first-ever anchor chosen through Star News’ nationwide anchor hunt.

    Whether covering labourers trapped in tunnels in Chamoli or championing unheard voices in Bharat, Kandwal has stayed grounded in the belief that journalism should serve people, not pageviews.

    “NDTV India has always stood for trust, empathy, and journalism that values the viewer’s intelligence. That’s exactly what drives me as a journalist. I look forward to going beyond the headlines and telling stories that matter”, Kandwal said on her appointment.

    Her addition strengthens NDTV’s dynamic new lineup, a newsroom being reshaped by young but deeply credible journalists. It’s part of a larger transformation NDTV India has undertaken—to make journalism relevant, rooted, and relatable again.

  • Times Network enters Canada via Rogers Xfinity TV with ET NOW and Times Now Navbharat launch

    Times Network enters Canada via Rogers Xfinity TV with ET NOW and Times Now Navbharat launch

    MUMBAI: The Indian diaspora in Canada just got a front-row seat to India’s pulse—served hot, straight from Mumbai. Times Network, the broadcast arm of Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd., has expanded its international footprint by launching two of its flagship channels—ET Now and Times Now Navbharat—on Rogers Xfinity TV in Canada.

    The channels went live on Rogers Xfinity via a strategic tie-up with Ethnic Channels Group (ECG), the world’s largest multicultural broadcaster. ET Now is now available on Channel 2651, while Times Now Navbharat airs on Channel 2696. Both channels will be accessible under a free preview window till 17 June, after which Canadian subscribers can opt in via theme packs for premium Indian news content.

    “Our presence on Rogers Xfinity TV and partnership with Ethnic Channels Group marks a pivotal step in our international growth strategy. As we continue to build a truly global presence, this launch reinforces our commitment to delivering high-quality Indian news content to the diaspora in Canada. We see this partnership as a gateway to new opportunities, enabling us to serve our viewers better and strengthen Times Network’s position as a trusted global media brand”, said Times Network executive president & COO Jagdish Mulchandani.

    The move taps into a growing appetite among the south Asian diaspora for India-focused, real-time news. ET Now delivers market-savvy programming like The Market, The Money Show, Startup Central, and Buy Now Sell Now, offering Canadian viewers a front-row seat to India’s economic engine. Meanwhile, Times Now Navbharat broadcasts Hindi-language shows like News Ki Pathshala, Sawal Public Ka, and Opinion India Ka, focusing on ground-up perspectives, citizen voices, and sharp political analysis.

    Ethnic Channels Group co-founder & CEO Slava Levin added, “It’s an attention economy in today’s fast changing world. Credible news is of paramount importance and tuning out the noise from the facts is critical. Ethnic Channels Group is proud to partner with the Times Network for ET Now (Business News) and Times Navbharat (Hindi News) enriching the media landscape in Canada. As Canada’s largest multicultural TV operator, ECG continues to widen its channel portfolio and strengthen its footprint worldwide”.

    For Times Network, the expansion is part of its larger ambition to become a global Indian media brand, targeting audiences who straddle two worlds and crave credible, timely news from both. For ECG and Rogers, it adds further depth to their international content offerings at a time when demand for multicultural programming is on the rise.

    With this launch, Times Network cements its Canadian presence and adds yet another milestone in its global journey—delivering Indian news, with nuance and depth, to viewers navigating life across borders.

  • TV9 Network partners with All Out and IMA to take a big bite out of dengue this year

    TV9 Network partners with All Out and IMA to take a big bite out of dengue this year

    MUMBAI: As the monsoons roll in, so do the mosquitoes. But this time, India’s battle against dengue is getting a prime-time push. On World Dengue Day 2025, TV9 Network joined forces with mosquito repellent brand All Out and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to launch the ‘Saath Ladenge Dengue Se’ campaign—a multi-day, multi-platform blitz to inform, engage and mobilise citizens in the fight against mosquito-borne illnesses.

    The campaign kicked off with a bang on 15 June, aiming to reframe the narrative around mosquitoes from minor irritants to major health threats. With cases of dengue rising across India, the initiative makes a timely intervention by focusing on prevention, awareness and collaboration.

    “At TV9 Network, we believe in using the power of media to drive meaningful change. Through our partnership with All Out, we are not just broadcasting a campaign, we are enabling a nationwide movement to fight Dengue with knowledge, urgency, and unity”, said 
    TV9 Network CRO Amit Tripathi.

    The campaign’s media rollout includes broadcast across six regional TV9 channels—Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Marathi, Bangla and Gujarati—tapping into the network’s linguistic diversity and regional reach. Households from Kolkata to Kutch are tuning in to specially curated vignettes and anchor-led explainers, busting myths and spelling out symptoms in bite-sized doses.

    TV9’s ‘Doctor Bytes’ series features IMA-affiliated experts dishing out simple, actionable guidance. From recognising early warning signs to listing do’s and don’ts, the message is clear: mosquitoes may be small, but the consequences aren’t. The messaging is concise, the delivery clinical.

    “Awareness is the first step toward prevention. With ‘Saath Ladenge Dengue Se, An All Out initiative’ we are blending credible medical insight with high-impact storytelling to empower families across India,” said Raktim Das, Chief Growth Officer, TV9 Network.

    Brillon Consumer Products MD & CEO Ratanjit Das said, “All Out has always stood for protecting families from mosquitoes and the diseases they cause. Awareness on vector borne diseases is still very low in India today. With Dengue on the rise, we felt the need to increase our efforts on educating consumers and work with credible partners to create mass awareness. All Out’s ‘Saath Ladenge Dengue Se’ campaign is a step towards that goal”.

    The campaign reaches a crescendo with a national-level televised panel discussion on TV9 Bharatvarsh, bringing together doctors, public health experts and IMA representatives to discuss real-time risks, misinformation, and the need for a multi-sectoral effort in tackling vector-borne diseases.

    “Preventing vector-borne diseases is a public health priority. Diseases like Dengue cannot be tackled in isolation by one individual, it needs all stakeholders coming together and collectively finding solutions. Indian Medical Association is proud to collaborate on this initiative to reach households with life-saving information”, noted 
    Indian Medical Association national president Dilip Bhanushali.

    Not just resting on remote controls, the campaign also sees an aggressive digital play. TV9’s platforms are flooded with Instagram reels, Facebook explainers and X (formerly Twitter) threads—all designed to keep India swiping, scrolling and staying safe.

    In a country where dengue still takes lives and mosquito bites often get shrugged off, this campaign is a wake-up call. It asks Indians to fight back not just with repellent, but with information.

  • India TV Speed News hits the web, puts fast journalism in the fast lane

    India TV Speed News hits the web, puts fast journalism in the fast lane

    MUMBAI: India TV Speed News has put its foot on the digital pedal. After speeding ahead on connected TV and traditional broadcast, the country’s first 24×7 fast news channel has launched on the web, marking another bold lap in its multi-platform race.

    Catering to the mobile-first, notification-fatigued digital generation, the web expansion aims to deliver its signature blitz of news across short, snackable formats like Speed 50, Speed 100, Duniya 20, Sports 20 and Mausam 20. Whether viewers are toggling tabs at work or scrolling at midnight, India TV Speed News promises to keep them updated at click-speed.

    “With the launch of India TV Speed News on the web, we are taking credible and fast journalism to today’s digital audience. Speed News has been a huge success on CTV and TV and now with web, we are going to reach audience where they are, anytime, on any device”, said India TV MD Ritu Dhawan.

    The launch plays right into the growing shift in media diets, especially among urban, tech-savvy viewers aged 25 to 45. This crowd has little patience for fluff and plenty of appetite for clutter-free, crisp updates—the kind that Speed News has made its calling card.

    With its new digital destination, India TV is aiming for ubiquity—on smart TVs, web browsers, or smartphones.

    The idea is simple: be everywhere the audience is, and be there first.

    India TV Speed News’ web presence reiterates the broadcaster’s focus on journalistic speed, factual integrity, and platform-agnostic delivery. The content might be fast, but the ambition is built to last.

  • Front and centre Manorama News makes a clear case for credibility

    Front and centre Manorama News makes a clear case for credibility

    MUMBAI: In the age of blink-and-miss news, Manorama News is making sure you don’t miss a thing by being quite literally right in front of you. The Malayalam news powerhouse is turning heads and tuning in hearts with its sharp brand refresh and high-impact campaign, Neril Kaanam which translates to “Right in Front of You.” With a tagline that doubles as a promise, the initiative repositions Manorama News not just as a source of updates, but as an omnipresent part of a Malayali’s daily routine.

    This strategic rebranding now live across TV, digital, and mobile platforms isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about agility, authenticity, and attention. The refresh includes a sleeker logo, bigger fonts for bite-sized clarity, and graphics built with a digital-first lens all designed by Ian Wormleighton of Twin Associates, UK, who’s also helped craft visual identities for the BBC.

    “Viewers shouldn’t have to go looking for the news, it should find them,” said MM TV CEO P. R. Satheesh. “That’s the essence of Neril Kaanam.”

    The results are showing. Whether it’s breaking news, local weather or cricket scores, everything now lands front and centre literally. The channel has also launched new shows like Actually Enthannu Sambhavichathu, Trending News, and Innu Nadannathu, designed to give viewers more depth without the drag.

    What’s truly breaking new ground, however, is the use of anchors themselves in a set of six promotional films, a first in Indian TV news marketing turning familiar faces into brand storytellers.

    With a 360-degree marketing push spanning television, print, digital, and outdoor, the Neril Kaanam message is everywhere. And early feedback suggests it’s working viewers are noticing, conversations are spiking, and digital engagement metrics are climbing.

    In short, Manorama News isn’t just refreshing its look, it’s refreshing how news is seen, heard, and trusted.

  • News18 India takes a jab at Aaj Tak with bold print campaign in The Economic Times

    News18 India takes a jab at Aaj Tak with bold print campaign in The Economic Times

    MUMBAI: Three years is a long time to lie low, and News18 India isn’t letting its rival forget it. In a front-page ad that screams swagger, the channel took a not-so-subtle dig at competitor Aaj Tak with the line: “3 saal se gire, Aaj Tak nahi uthe”. Plastered across The Economic Times on
    10 June, the ad fired off a victory lap, underpinned by a bouquet of audience metrics.

    According to BARC (Wk 22’22–21’25, 24 hours, all days, HSM), News18 India clocked 7.88 crore average weekly AMA, decisively ahead of Aaj Tak’s 7.35 crore. The jab wasn’t just terrestrial. On YouTube, the network reported a massive 3.4 billion views, more than triple Aaj Tak’s 1.04 billion, as per May 2025 Playboard data.

    For three straight years, News18 India has claimed the top position in the Hindi news genre, especially during national events where real-time analysis and critical reportage often define trust.

    Its editorial firepower comes from a frontline of anchors including Kishore Ajwani, Amish Devgan, Rubika Liyaquat, Prateek Trivedi, and Aman Chopra. Backed by a nationwide web of reporters, the channel has kept its programming punchy, polarising when needed, but persistently on point.

    News18 India’s latest campaign doesn’t merely flaunt numbers—it sharpens them into weapons. As the digital and broadcast battlegrounds heat up, this move signals that News18 doesn’t just want to lead the race. It wants to win it with style.

     

  • Market makes the match as Nuvama partners with Network18 for 360 buzz

    Market makes the match as Nuvama partners with Network18 for 360 buzz

    MUMBAI: When it comes to the market, timing is everything and Nuvama has picked its slot wisely. In a strategic play to bolster its brand presence across India’s financial news ecosystem, wealth management major Nuvama Group has inked a year-long partnership with Network18, beginning 2 June 2025. The tie-up places Nuvama right at the beating heart of stock market discourse, the Market Hours segment across the CNBC Universe.

    Billed as the most-watched business news programming in the country, Market Hours will now see Nuvama integrated via contextual co-branded promotions, smart non-FCT elements, and in-program visual branding that go beyond the classic ad break approach. The integration will play out across television, digital, and Connected TV, ensuring a full-spectrum 360-degree brand presence.

    Nuvama will also be the presenting sponsor of CNBC-TV18’s India Business Hour, airing Monday to Friday at 8 PM, a prime-time perch to cement its presence in India’s financial storytelling. But the real kicker is a first-of-its-kind daily post-market wrap, served with expert insight and fresh analysis on market movements, economic indicators, and sectoral shifts a content initiative that adds serious thought leadership to the brand’s positioning.

    Network18 CEO, business news, Smriti Mehra said, “We are delighted to welcome Nuvama as a valued partner. This partnership is rooted in a shared vision for long-term collaboration, and we look forward to working together in the years ahead.”

    Nuvama Group CMO Sujay Rachh added, “We are pleased to announce Nuvama’s first-ever partnership with Network18, a strategic move that brings together two trusted brands with a shared commitment to empowering investors. In a world where information is abundant, but clarity is rare, this association is designed to deliver credible, actionable insights. We see strong momentum ahead as this partnership brings together trust, scale and thought leadership.”

    For a sector as dynamic as wealth management, timing a brand push to the right platform and moment can be everything. With this partnership, Nuvama isn’t just riding the ticker, it’s making its own headlines.

  • Breaking news, breaking records as Aaj Tak holds Hindi crown again

    Breaking news, breaking records as Aaj Tak holds Hindi crown again

     MUMBAI: Prime time isn’t just Aaj Tak’s time, it’s the time they broke the mould and the leaderboard. India’s leading Hindi news channel, Aaj Tak, has retained its No. 1 position in Week 21 of the BARC ratings for 2025 (HSM | 15 plus | 24 Hrs | Gross AMA’000), clocking a Gross AMA of 1,06,202 and commanding a 13.3 per cent market share the highest among the 14 Hindi news channels tracked. Its closest competitor, News18 India, followed with 1,05,147 AMA and a 13.1 per cent share, showing just how close the news battle can get when the stakes are sky-high.

    This win isn’t just statistical, it’s strategic. The channel’s decisive and sustained coverage of ‘Operation Sindoor’, a major national story that dominated headlines in May, proved to be a defining moment. Aaj Tak’s revamped prime time roster, featuring anchors surgically slotted into time bands with distinct formats, captured viewer loyalty and cemented the channel’s position across TV and digital platforms.

    On 8 May, during the peak of Operation Sindoor’s coverage, 2 million concurrent viewers tuned in to Aaj Tak’s Youtube livestream, setting another benchmark and demonstrating that the channel’s dominance extends far beyond traditional broadcasting.

    Weeks 18 and 19 had already seen Aaj Tak notch record engagement across rolled and unrolled BARC data. Now, with Week 21 locked in as a win, the message is loud and clear when breaking news breaks, India still turns to Aaj Tak.

    With competitors close behind, Aaj Tak’s consistent edge in editorial innovation, digital integration, and anchor-led prime time might just be the secret sauce to its continued lead. For now, the scoreboard says it all and the ticker at Aaj Tak HQ probably reads: still number one.

  • Kho-Khoaching class act sets sport on global fast track

    Kho-Khoaching class act sets sport on global fast track

    MUMBAI: Kho Kho, the homegrown Indian game of agility and grit, just got a high-speed upgrade on and off the mat. As the sport stretches beyond its traditional roots to stake its claim on the global stage, the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) is playing tag with the future by launching its most advanced training initiative yet.

    The Advanced Level III-A Training Course for coaches and technical officials kicked off on June 2, 2025, at SGT University, Budhera, and will run till June 15. Organised by KKFI under the aegis of the International Kho Kho Federation (IKKF), the course is no ordinary classroom drill, it’s a knowledge sprint featuring 20 international coaches and officials from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iran, Australia, England, Korea and Malaysia, alongside 50 Indian coaches and 65 technical officials.

    From biomechanics to sports psychology, recovery techniques to anti-doping awareness, the curriculum mirrors a sport in metamorphosis. With morning fitness sessions and rigorous classroom modules, participants are being immersed in a next-gen playbook designed to take Kho Kho from kabaddi’s countryside cousin to a globally recognised sport.

    5 June was a masterclass in modernisation with sessions on sports science by Pooja Bhati, anti-doping education by Vikas Tyagi and Anurag, and tactical training by legendary coach H. V. Nataraj. The day began with a sweat-inducing physical drill by Ashwani Sharma, reinforcing the discipline behind the dash.

    “This course reflects our commitment to preparing a new generation of coaches and officials who are equipped with the knowledge, tools, and international exposure to take Kho Kho to the next level,” said KKFI president Sudhanshu Mittal. He also underlined how the sport is evolving with mat-based gameplay, a Decision Review System (DRS) and even the strategic ‘Wazir’ role.

    The training for coaches wraps up on June 11 with a practical exam and reflective session, before the officials’ segment begins from 12–15 June.

    With 135 participants in total and a syllabus as sharp as the game’s signature sprints, this course is more than just a seminar, it’s Kho Kho’s statement of intent. The message is clear: India isn’t just where the game began. It’s where the global future of Kho Kho is being written one pivot, one pass, and now, one world-class coach at a time.

  • TV9 Network to host second News9 Global Summit in Stuttgart to power Indo-German ties

    TV9 Network to host second News9 Global Summit in Stuttgart to power Indo-German ties

    MUMBAI: If diplomacy had a passport, it would likely be stamped in Stuttgart this October. TV9 Network is flying its flagship summit back to Europe, announcing the second edition of the News9 Global Summit to be held in Stuttgart, Germany, from 8-10 October 2025. The event celebrates 25 years of the Indo-German partnership and marks a decade of strategic state-level cooperation between Maharashtra and Baden-Württemberg.

    At a press conference in Noida, TV9 Network MD & CEO Barun Das joined Baden-Württemberg sate secretary Florian Hassler and VfB Stuttgart 1893 AG chief marketing & sales officer Rouven Kasper to officially unveil the summit’s second act. With a theme rooted in cooperation over competition, the summit aims to spark robust discussions around democracy, sustainable development, and cross-border innovation.

    “The second edition of the News9 Global Summit is a bridge between two innovation-driven democracies”, said Das. “India and Germany fit each other like a jigsaw puzzle. India brings scale, a tech-savvy workforce, and demand, while Germany contributes technology and precision”.

    Das stressed that collaboration, not conquest, is the need of the hour. “We don’t have to win at the loss of somebody else”, he said, highlighting the potential for both nations to chart a shared growth trajectory.

    The summit will bring together leaders from politics, academia, and business for three days of candid conversation on the future of democracy, trade, development, and global cooperation. Special attention will be given to the unique bond between Maharashtra and Baden-Württemberg, showcasing how sub-national partnerships can fuel international diplomacy.

    “As we celebrate 25 years of Indo-German partnership, Baden-Württemberg is proud to host the News9 Global Summit”, Hassler noted. “This platform strengthens our ties with India, fosters innovation, and promotes democratic dialogue”.

    Kasper, who saw the summit’s inaugural edition strike a chord, expects a sequel worth the build-up. “Last year, the summit was a tremendous success”, he said. “This year, we’re ready to turn up the volume on ideas that matter, with speakers and discussions that go beyond borders”.

    The Stuttgart gathering will also spotlight the city’s growing role in global diplomacy. The Summit is designed to be more than just a talking shop – it aims to offer real-world solutions on sustainability, trade, technology and people-to-people connections.

    TV9 Network, known for its expansive regional footprint, is also using the occasion to reinforce India’s robust and plural media ecosystem, a point Das proudly acknowledged.

    As geopolitics evolves at breakneck speed, the 2025 edition of the News9 Global Summit positions itself not just as a celebration of the past but as a compass for the future.