Tag: Jyoti Kamal

MUMBAI: When news meets views and memes meet meaning, it’s time for Viral Baat Raunac ke Saath. News18 India, the country’s No. 1 Hindi news channel, is plugging into Gen Z’s frequency with its latest show featuring India’s favourite radio prankster-turned-digital dynamo, RJ Raunac.

Airing every Thursday and Friday at 8:35 pm starting next week, the show promises a punchy mix of trending talk, digital explainers, and laugh-out-loud insights on everything that’s making India scroll. Think AI-powered video explainers, viral social trends, national headlines with a meme-worthy spin and of course, Raunac’s trademark wit that turns even serious news into shareable moments.

The format is tailor-made for today’s short-attention-span audience: snackable clips will roll out across News18 India’s social handles, ensuring the show lives far beyond television screens. With humour, speed and digital savvy baked into its DNA, Viral Baat Raunac ke Saath aims to bridge the great divide between primetime anchors and your favourite reel-makers.

News18 India (PH & JKLH) managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “RJ Raunac is one of India’s most loved radio personalities and enjoys immense popularity among the youth. This show reflects our continuous efforts to adapt to new formats, collaborate with influencers, and engage audiences where they are. With Viral Baat Raunac ke Saath, we aim to blend news in a refreshing and relatable style, trending topics, humour and insights together in one engaging experience.”

For Raunac, the idea is simple, if the world can go viral, why not the news? “These days, everything goes viral, memes, reels, even people! So why not news? That’s exactly what we’re doing with Viral Baat Raunac ke Saath, where news meets views in the most entertaining way. With News18 India, we’re creating a show that makes you think, smile and share all at once!” he quipped.

The collaboration marks a clever turn in how mainstream media is courting digital creators to capture younger audiences. By bringing influencers into the news fold, News18 India is blurring the lines between newsroom rigour and online spontaneity turning current affairs into current fun.

From the mic to the meme, Raunac’s viral voice is all set to make prime time scroll-worthy again. So, when the clock hits 8:35, don’t just watch the news vibe with it. Show airs every Thursday and Friday, 8:35 pm on News18 India, and streams across its digital platforms.

Mumbai: News18 India has announced the launch of its upcoming debate show, titled ‘News18 India Goonj’. Presented by popular news anchor Rubika Liyaquat, the show is set to debut on February 21 and will air on weekdays from 5 PM to 6 PM.

‘News18 India Goonj’ is a hard-hitting political news debate show which promises to reverberate in the households of millions of news consumers every evening. Launched against the backdrop of the upcoming general elections, the show will cover the biggest political news stories with participation from prominent faces across the political spectrum. The show will inform, dissect, analyse, and debate the issue(s) in a format never seen before on Indian television.

Each episode will commence with a concise overview of the selected news story, presented with impactful visuals and graphics. This will be followed by an exclusive segment revealing research-based, untold facts about the story, enriching viewers’ understanding of the topic. The debate segment will then take centre stage, with short initial comments from the panel with a countdown running on screen for each participant. Adding an interactive element to the show, both TV and digital viewers will get to vote and comment in the audience poll. The results will be announced towards the end of the show, reflecting the public pulse on the debated issue. To ensure balanced and meaningful discussions, one prominent journalist/analyst on the panel will act as the show’s referee, providing insightful information and adding depth to the dialogue. The show will conclude with the poll results and Rubika Liyaqat’s take on the topic, leaving viewers with a consolidated understanding of the discussed topic.

Speaking on the upcoming show,  News18 India and Hindi Digital editor Jyoti Kamal said, “In the lead-up to the general elections, this show is our effort to provide viewers with a comprehensive understanding of key election issues and major news stories from diverse perspectives. The show is designed to empower the audience to form well-informed opinions by presenting information that enables them to draw their own conclusions, with accurate and valuable insights. This debate show will be unlike any other, and I am eager to see how the audience embraces it.”

Starting February 21, ‘News18 India Goonj’ will air on weekdays from 5 PM to 6 PM on News18 India. It will be available for streaming on the channel’s YouTube platform.