News Broadcasting

Pushing boundaries: Unleashing tech-enabled creativity for dynamic campaigns

Published

3 years ago

August 14, 2023

Mumbai: Several initiatives in terms of technology were introduced by News 18 to give their viewers an extraordinary experience. News18 Punjab/Haryana explored diverse aspects of leveraging artificial intelligence to transform the education system through ‘AI Kaur’ at its ‘Education Summit: Season 04’ event. AI Kaur facilitated conversation with the panelists and welcomed the audience in their local dialect.

For instance, the channel on the occasion of Mother’s Day this year introduced an extraordinary Metaverse experience that received an overwhelming response, attracting a reach of over one crore in just one day. The purpose of this initiative was to create an interactive environment that encouraged participants to explore and commit to being respectful towards mothers in general.

These technological integrations are just a part of News18’s larger motive to bring engaging and diverse experiences to their viewers who can expect many more to come.

Aditya has close to 25 years of experience in market strategy, brand management and communication in the media and technology domains across India, Nepal and Mauritius. He currently leads marketing and product for a portfolio of seven brands at News 18 Network including News 18 India – India’s No. 1 Hindi News channel.

Indiantelevision.com in an email interaction with News18 Network (HC) vice president (head) – brand marketing & product Aditya Tandonon the technological innovations and much more…..

Edited Excerpts:

On technology being the game-changer in the Newsroom today, how do you work around it to give your viewers a better experience and does it garner greater interest from viewers who are coming in for the first time

We truly live in very exciting times – technology is advancing at a very rapid pace and is impacting every area of the organisation. From a product and a marketing standpoint, the tech-enabled toolkit available to us today allows us to curate differentiated experiences. For instance, the launch of an AI anchor by our Network not only generated tremendous excitement among our audiences but also helped us form a deeper connection with them.

Audiences are also constantly seeking avenues to express themselves, share their views and play a part. With the advent of new platforms and technologies, this process has been accelerating and is only likely to accelerate further going forward. Brands are looking at going beyond just being interactive and providing deeply immersive experiences. We, for example, did a hugely successful Mother’s Day activity recently on Metaverse. It allowed viewers to don a virtual avatar and create memorable and shareable moments. Such activities are likely to take engagement to a whole new level.

On the AI news anchor ‘AI Kaur’, the strategy to launch her in News18 Punjab/Haryana, and the audiences’ reaction to this

Well, there was an event that was being planned – an Education Summit in Chandigarh, and it was felt that this would be a great platform to experiment and launch an AI anchor. This was a first for any regional market and it generated a huge amount of excitement; a huge amount of chatter among our audiences and our clients who lauded us for the innovation. We, in fact, followed this experiment with a similar one at another of our events in Jaipur where again, the audience was quite excited to experience the power of AI first-hand. I think we are all on a journey of discovery to understand and truly leverage the enormous power that the latest technologies put at our disposal, and I am sure that we will continue to see several innovations and disruptions in the near future as we understand them better.

On the upcoming general elections in 2024, but this year we will also see elections in a few significant states. Election coverage has evolved over the years with the use of technology. What will be the network’s innovations, and strategy for election coverage

News18 has always been known for its election coverage. From our strength on the ground to our expertise in the studios, from our production innovations to the speed & accuracy of our updates, News18 is the network that audiences rely on for elections. The General Elections as well as the 5 State elections are slated for later in 2023, hence the next 10-12 months will be huge for us as India’s No. 1 News Network. We have big plans for coverage – with thousands of hours of programming across multiple languages across all of our channels– this will be the biggest, most historic coverage of elections ever.

Technology has always played a key part in our election coverage – the Magic Wall that was developed by our teams allows our anchors and experts to drill down into data as required and share insights with viewers. The immersive ‘Air ElexA’ experience that we created took the industry by storm at the time. We are known for being the only news network that runs a Live Election Hub on results day. We will continue to build on this legacy and wow the audiences as we go into our coverage of the upcoming elections.

On the new buzzword AI; the network ensuring brand loyalty and keeping the audiences engaged

The honest answer to that is how loyalty and identity have always been maintained. Marketers have always had an assortment of tools at their disposal. The differentiation has come from how these tools have been used. The latest technologies including AI will allow marketers and business leaders to sharpen processes, drive insights, focus even more sharply on delivering ROI, and drive engagement but ultimately it will come down to experiences; product experiences, and communication experiences that marketers can curate – differentiated and unique experiences that evoke passion and emotion in consumers and make them love your brand.

On Network 18’s technology upgradation helping the network to bring in new viewers and the vision for the next three years

At News18 we have been quite excited about bringing truly unique, diverse experiences for our viewers – from a product, content, production as well as a marketing standpoint. I mentioned above our unique Mother’s Day campaign on Metaverse. This campaign allowed viewers to celebrate the special day in a manner that was both – interactive and immersive. The campaign was well-received and generated a massive reach in just 24 hours. Initiatives such as these create a huge amount of buzz for the brand – driving sampling and engagement both.

We will continue experimenting with the latest stack of tech-enabled tools available to marketers to bring highly creative, engaging and differentiated campaigns and offerings. The AI anchors, for instance, at the events in Chandigarh and Jaipur that I spoke about are some examples of this or for that matter the Magic Wall or ElexA platforms that I alluded to above. We are also working on a really exciting project even now, where we will use technology to create an environment and allow viewers to experience content in a whole different way. As the leaders in the category, you will continue to see us push the boundary as far as our marketing and product thinking is concerned. We will apply the latest tools available to us to sharpen our creative processes, our media strategy and most importantly our product thinking based on deep insights that we can extract with the help of technology.

News Broadcasting

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

Published

1 month 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

1 month 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

1 month 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.