News Broadcasting

Guest article: Purpose is key

Published

2 years ago

January 8, 2024

Mumbai: One word that certainly fascinates me is purpose. Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “the reason for which something is done or for which something exists”. If we go by the literal definition, we can clearly decipher that what purpose means for individuals is ‘why’. It is what makes us get out of bed, what makes us tick. And for organisations purpose has become more important than it ever was before. The factors driving this are the rapid shifts in technology, culture, society and behaviour that influence individual decisions on which organisations and brands people want to work for and buy from.

Nowadays, it is vital for companies to have a purpose that exists beyond just profit and places value and importance on building relationships that mean they are a brand that people can connect with. If the brand gets this right, it is easier for them to improve business performance, reduce churn, and importantly, build value and trust with consumers.

This has been proven by data. A study published by the Harvard Business Review found that companies with a clearly articulated purpose outperformed those organisations that didn’t develop their purpose. Specifically, 52 per cent of purpose-driven companies experienced more than 10 per cent growth compared to 42 per cent of non-purpose-driven companies. They also enjoyed greater global expansion, more product launches, and more successful transformational efforts.

The reason for this is that the world is now moving towards relational and purpose-driven businesses while “transactional businesses” have been left behind in the past. Purpose-driven businesses ensure that employees are more empowered and motivated, and the resulting innovation and performance fuels further customer engagement and loyalty.

As a news powerhouse used as a global point of reference, CNN also has a clear purpose. As I continue to admire the work that my editorial colleagues continue to do day in day out, a recent study by Toluna also revealed that 73 per cent of global news consumers think that role of international news today is more important than it was ever before. In addition, international news is seen as being reliable, trustworthy, providing high-quality journalism and in-depth analysis.

CNN has played a key role in global journalism for 43 years — this not only gives employees a purpose, but also provides a platform and environment to help brands articulate their purpose to global audiences. The key is to align the purpose with audience expectations and sentiments. When we conducted a study into attitudes amongst the CNN audience, we found that, after inflation, climate change is the second topic that audiences are most concerned about in 2023. This concern affects their behaviour, both in their personal and professional lives. 84 per cent of CNN business elites in India agree that ESG remains a focus for their company, and 92 per cent expect ESG to be even more important to business in the next 12 months than it is now. The Gen Z audience makes it more important for brands to be purpose-driven as their behaviour and expectations from brands is very different from past generations. This generation places increased value on brand authenticity and strives to be socially and environmentally responsible. They are more selective of what they buy, who they buy from and the effect their actions have on the environment. Our research shows that CNN’s Gen Z audience firmly believes that brands need to take a stance on causes of our time.

As a result, we are aware that if businesses are acting in a meaningful way to promote sustainability and are able to communicate this message in an authentic manner, they will be in a significantly better position to connect with our audience.

A good example of this is Kirloskar, who have been ahead of the curve on thinking about and acting on green issues. Kirloskar have partnered with CNNIC for 15 years, with our shared purpose of sustainability and environmental awareness forming the basis of this relationship. With Kirloskar’s sponsorship of CNN’s Going Green initiative, a series that showcases cutting-edge green technologies and explores innovative solutions for a sustainable tomorrow, over the past 15 years Kirloskar has reached global audiences including more than 700 million environmentally conscious viewers and over 270 million business decision-makers to foster a deeper understanding of sustainable innovations.

Green and sustainability issues have been put at the heart of the news agenda in 2023 as further evidence of the climate emergency and its far-reaching effects has been in force all across the globe. The year will close with climate high on the news agenda as COP28 takes place in the UAE. From the very announcement, this has been billed as the most important COP since Paris in 2015. As even many sceptics are sitting up and taking notice as temperatures soar, wildfires spread, sea levels rise and glaciers melt, exacerbating issues from food security to migration.

This is the most appropriate time for companies to look to the future and decisively define their purpose, particularly around the issue of sustainability and the future of our planet. The stage is set at COP28, which will provide brands a unique moment to show they have the agency to be part of a more optimistic, purpose-driven future. But here the world will take into consideration actions, and words without action would certainly go in vain.

This article has been authored by CNN International Commercial vice president, audiences & data Tini Sevak.

Related Topics:CNN International Commercial Tini Sevak

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News Broadcasting

Barc forensic audit in TRP row awaits as Twenty-Four probe gathers pace

Published

2 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

KERALA: A forensic audit commissioned by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has emerged as the centrepiece of the government’s response to fresh allegations of television rating point manipulation involving a regional news channel in Kerala, with both the audit findings and a parallel police investigation still awaited.

Replying to a query in the Lok Sabha, minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan, said Barc had appointed an independent agency to conduct a forensic probe into the conduct of senior personnel allegedly linked to the case.

The move followed media reports claiming that a Barc employee had accepted bribes to manipulate viewership data in favour of a regional television news channel.

“The report from BARC is still awaited,” Murugan told Parliament, signalling that the forensic exercise remains ongoing.

Industry specialists say forensic audits are crucial in alleged TRP fraud cases, as they examine internal controls, data access trails, panel household integrity, staff communications and financial transactions. The outcome could determine whether the alleged manipulation was an isolated breach or a deeper systemic weakness in India’s television measurement framework.

Running alongside the audit, the Kerala Police has formed a special investigation team to probe the allegations. The ministry has sought a preliminary report from the state’s director general of police, including details of action taken on the first information report. That report, too, is yet to be submitted.

The episode has revived long-standing concerns over the vulnerability of India’s TRP system, particularly in regional news markets where competition for ratings is fierce and advertising revenues hinge on weekly viewership rankings.

India’s sole television audience measurement body Barc, has faced scrutiny before, most notably during the nationwide TRP controversy involving news channels in 2020. While tighter compliance norms were introduced in the aftermath, the latest allegations suggest enforcement challenges may persist.

On regulatory consequences, the government said any punitive action against television channels, including suspension or cancellation of uplinking and downlinking permissions, would be governed by the Policy Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels issued in November 2022, and would depend on investigation outcomes and due process.

The ministry also pointed to ongoing efforts to overhaul the ratings ecosystem. Television measurement continues to be regulated under the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, 2014. Draft amendments were released for public consultation in July 2025, followed by a revised version in November 2025, aimed at tightening audit mechanisms and improving transparency and representativeness.

In November 2025, Barc said it had taken note of allegations aired by Malayalam news channel Twenty-Four, which linked an internal employee to irregularities in audience measurement. The council said it had engaged a “reputed independent agency” to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit, underscoring the seriousness of the claims.

The ratings system sits at the heart of India’s broadcast advertising economy, shaping billions of rupees in annual ad spends. With trust in audience data once again under strain, advertisers, broadcasters and regulators are closely watching the outcome of the investigations.

Barc has urged industry stakeholders and media organisations to exercise restraint while the probe is underway, calling for an end to “unverified or speculatory claims” and reiterating its commitment to integrity and accountability.

Until the forensic audit and police findings are submitted and reviewed, the government said it would refrain from drawing conclusions.

News Broadcasting

Rajat Sharma defamation row: Delhi court summons Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh

Published

2 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has ordered the summoning of senior Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh in a criminal case filed by veteran journalist Rajat Sharma, sharpening a legal battle over alleged defamation and doctored digital content.

The order was passed on Monday by Devanshi Janmeja, judicial magistrate first class at Saket Courts, after the court found prima facie grounds to proceed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including forgery, creation of false electronic records and defamation.

Sharma, chairman and editor-in-chief of India TV, had approached the court over allegations made in June 2024 that he had used derogatory language against Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak during a live television debate. He denied the charge, claiming it was fuelled by a manipulated video circulated online.

According to the complaint, a clipped version of the broadcast carrying superimposed captions, which were not part of the original programme, was first shared on social media platform X by Nayak and later amplified through retweets and public statements by Khera and Ramesh. Sharma said the viral spread caused serious reputational harm and personal distress.

The court took note of forensic science laboratory findings that pointed to visible post-production alterations in the video, including added titles and captions. It also cited witness testimonies from those present during the live broadcast, who stated that no abusive or objectionable language had been used.

In a related civil matter, the Delhi High Court had earlier observed a prima facie absence of abusive remarks and directed the removal of the disputed social media posts.

With criminal proceedings now set in motion, the case adds to mounting scrutiny around political messaging, digital manipulation and accountability on social media platforms.

News Broadcasting

Mukesh Ambani, Larry Fink come together for CNBC-TV18 exclusive

Reliance and BlackRock chiefs map the future of investing as global capital eyes India

Published

2 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: India’s capital story takes centre stage today as Mukesh Ambani and Larry Fink sit down for a rare joint television conversation, bringing together two of the most powerful voices in global business at a moment of economic churn and opportunity.

The Reliance Industries chief and the BlackRock boss will speak with Shereen Bhan, managing editor of CNBC-TV18, in an exclusive interaction airing from 3:00 pm on February 4. The timing is deliberate. Geopolitics are tense, technology is disruptive and capital is choosier. India, meanwhile, is pitching itself as a long-term bet.

The pairing is symbolic. Reliance straddles energy transition, digital infrastructure and consumer growth in the world’s fastest-expanding major economy. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, oversees more than $14 tn in assets and sits at the nerve centre of global capital flows. When the two talk, markets tend to listen.

Fink’s appearance marks his third India visit, a signal of the country’s rising strategic weight for the Wall Street-listed firm, which carries a market value above $177 bn. His earlier 2023 trips included an October stop in New Delhi, where he met both Ambani and Narendra Modi.

India is now central to BlackRock’s expansion plans, notably through its joint venture with Jio Financial Services. Announced in July 2023, the 50:50 venture, JioBlackRock, commits up to $150 mn each from the partners to build a digital-first asset-management platform aimed at India’s swelling investor class.

The backdrop is robust. BlackRock ended 2025 with record assets under management of $14.04 tn, helped by $698 bn in net inflows, including $342 bn in the fourth quarter alone. Scale gives Fink both heft and a long lens on where money is moving.

He has been openly bullish on India. At the Saudi-US Investment Summit in Riyadh last year, Fink argued that the “fog of global uncertainty is lifting”, with capital returning to dynamic markets such as India, drawn by reforms, demographics and durable return potential.

Expect the conversation to range beyond balance sheets, into technology’s role in finance, access to capital and the mechanics of sustainable growth in a fracturing world order. For investors and policymakers alike, it is a snapshot of how big money is thinking about India.

At a time when capital is cautious and growth is contested, India wants to be the exception. When Ambani and Fink share a stage, it is less a chat and more a signal. The world’s money is still looking for its next big story, and India intends to be it.