MUMBAI: Fierce regional battles and a re-energised opposition in last few months have paved the way for a blazing battle – the upcoming General Elections 2019. As the country prepares to elect the next government of the world’s largest democracy, News18 India and CNN-News18 have lined-up an extensive programming giving viewers an unparalleled access and insight into the elections.
Continuing the legacy of bringing the most incisive reportage on the elections, News18 India will present its General Election programming under the umbrella branding ‘Sabse Bada Dangal’. From covering high-decibel campaigns and rallies of political parties to questioning the politicians on substantive policy issues that affect the common man, the channel will telecast multitude of special shows. Starting 15 February, the channel has lined-up a comprehensive bulletin capturing major highlights and key stories from across the nation, related to the elections. The programming will also witness special edition of channel’s renowned shows – Bhaiyaji Kahin and Lapete Mein Netaji. While the former has a chaupal-cum-travelogue format providing an interactive platform to connect the voters and local leaders, the latter is a weekly ‘hasya kavi sammelan’ with prominent Hindi poets and satirists who will bring sharp sarcasm and a sense of humor to the political discourse. In the lead-up to the polls, News18 India has also planned live on-ground and in-studio debates from key constituencies featuring senior politicians to discuss about pertinent election issues through shows such as ‘Ye Desh Hai Humara’ and ‘Desh ko Jawaab Do’. Along with the special editions, the programming will also include profiling of the political leaders, exclusive interviews and wide ranging coverage on polling days and counting day.
CNN-News18 will delve into all aspects of the Lok Sabha elections with its special programming ‘A Billion Votes’. With its diverse formats and data-driven programming, the channel will bring up-to-the-minute updates throughout the election, keeping viewers apprised of the big moments as they unfold and scrutinise key policies and issues ahead of polling day. From daily shows like ‘Election Epicentre’ and ‘Setting the Election Agenda’ which will cover latest developments related to the elections to special on-ground shows such as ‘Reporter’s Project’ and ‘The Real Bharat’ that will witness seasoned reporters traversing across the length and breadth of the country, the channel will present its viewers with realities and voter sentiments from ground zero. From shows such as ‘Youngistan’ and ‘The Women Vote’ which will put a special focus on the youth and women voters of the country in order to ensure that their voice is captured and showcased to special programming like ‘Kings & Queens’ and ‘Election Yatra’ which will showcase the top leaders who will determine the outcome of Elections 2019, the channel is all set to provide its viewers power-packed programming. Offering a satirical round-up of the elections, ‘The Election That Wasn’t’, will feature Cyrus Broacha and Kunal Vijaykar who will look across the political spectrum, giving their own unique take on the election news and shenanigans. Known for its legacy of the most accurate and fastest results, CNN-News18 will provide an unmatched coverage on polling and counting day.
News18 India and CNN-News18 will deep dive into data with India’s only AI-driven election analytic tool called the ‘Magic Wall’. Powered by research done at the constituency level that can breakdown into LIVE results based on parameters such as industrial growth, farmer distress, millennial influence, government schemes impact, etc, the Magic Wall will provide an unparalleled experience to the viewers.
The programming will be led by the formidable editorial team of the channels. On News18 India, Kishore Ajwani, Deputy Managing Editor, Amish Devgan, Executive Editor and Prateek Trivedi, Senior Editor, will be joined by prominent experts like Ram Kripal Singh and Shesh Narain Singh. CNN-News18 will feature top anchors – Bhupendra Chaubey, Executive Editor, Zakka Jacob, Editor – Output, Anand Narasimhan, Deputy Executive Editor, Marya Shakil, Political Editor. Complementing them will be a panel of eminent journalists and political analysts like Swapan Dasgupta, Vir Sanghvi and Ajoy Bose to name a few.
The General Election coverage on both the channels will be further augmented by the extensive reach of the entire News18 Network. It will feature a range of interviews and debates with the biggest newsmakers, insightful conversations with experts and voters, alike as well as the wittiest and timeliest satire.
