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  • News channels undertake moment marketing on PM’s clarion call

    News channels undertake moment marketing on PM’s clarion call

    MUMBAI: News channels across genres cashed in on prime minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call to light a lamp as a collective show of resistance to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, by broadcasting special programmes or participating directly in the initiative.

    On Friday, PM Modi, during his address to the nation, urged countrymen to demonstrate a collective will to fight COVID-19 by switching off all lights at home and lighting a lamp, candle or turning on the mobile phones’ flashlight on 5 April, Sunday, at around 9 pm for nine minutes.

    Lighting up a lamp or candle is considered auspicious: an end of darkness. The prime minister had termed the virus as ‘darkness that engulfs us all’. And, only a collective strength will help the nation to come out of the pandemic, he said during his 11-minute message.

    Almost every news channel across the genre came up with the #hashtag campaign and tried to be different from one another. The most eye-catching one was of ABP News Network’s Hindi news channel ABP News’ #9MinuteKiDiwali and #9PMDiwaliAtABP. The channel placed a timer above the bottom band on the left-hand side of the screen for nine minutes.

    Times News Network’s English news channel Times Now had the same strategy, but it wasn’t about the nine minutes, but to make viewers aware as to when to participate in the event. The moment the clock struck 9:00 pm at the clock, the timer disappeared from the channel.

    Moreover, the network’s news and English entertainment channels curated a special content line-up on-air and across social media, urging viewers to rise to the occasion. It was at the forefront of the event’s coverage with live programming, special guests and ground reports.

    The parent channel of the group, Times Now, with #DiyaJalaoBharatJodo initiative, delivered a comprehensive coverage with live inputs reflecting the mood of the people across the nation and hosted a panel of eminent doctors, who answered the callers’ doubts and concerns about the virus.

    The network’s business news channel, ET Now, rolled out the special coverage under ‘The 9 PM pledge’. And, another English news channel, Mirror Now, hosted a special show featuring Usha Uthup, Bappi Lahiri and Sonu Nigam, who cheered the viewers with their delightful music.

    Similarly, Network18’s Hindi news channel News18 India also had a two-hour special programming line-up Ek Diya Desh Ke Naam. Celebrities such as yoga guru Baba Ramdev, musicians Salim Sulaiman Merchant and singer Harshdeep Kaur, among others, participated. They discussed the power of 130 crore Indian coming together and fighting for a collective cause.

    To show maximum coverage of the event, the channel deployed 100 reporters across 100 cities who tried to capture the Indian spirit of camaraderie and strength amid the fight against the pandemic.

    Unlike taali Bajao, thaali bajao initiative, TV Today Network kept itself low in terms of campaign and special programming. The network’s both English and Hindi news channels, India Today and Aaj Tak, had #9Baje9Minute hashtag running on TV screens just like #5Baje5Minute during Janta Curfew.

    Though there wasn’t any special programming, India Today had a live chat with singer Shibani Kashyap, who sang a self-composed song on the COVID19 during those nine minutes. Aaj Tak showed visuals of people participating in the initiative along with union ministers and Bollywood celebrities.

    Going a step ahead that could be termed as moment marketing, Republic Media Network’s English and Hindi news channels, Republic TV and Republic Bharat, switched off their newsroom’s light and each employee was seen holding mobile phones with the flashlight on. The group’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami anchored a live show in the dark with only his face being lit up.

    Similarly, TV9 network’s Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati news channels followed suit by switching off their newsroom’s light and making employees hold mobile phones with the flashlight on for nine minutes.

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ all-Hindi news channels had almost the same programming with the screen divided into four equal parts, one showing anchor, other had yoga guru Baba Ramdev doing Homa at Ganga ghat, third had visuals of people holding lit up lamps and fourth were showing visuals of union ministers participating in the initiative called by the prime minister.

    This is the second such event called out by Modi. An exact fortnight ago, the prime minister during one-day Janta curfew urged citizens to either clap or bang utensils (taali bajao, thaali bajao), as a tribute to the heroes who are fighting this deadly virus from the frontline. 

  • News channels report highest ever viewership gain in week 12 post lockdown

    News channels report highest ever viewership gain in week 12 post lockdown

    MUMBAI: The overall news genre has reported the highest ever weekly viewership so far this year in the week 12 (21-27 March) of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India as compared to the previous week (14-20 March), courtesy the lockdown.

    In the current week, the Hindi news channels' combined viewership has surged by around 140 per cent, whereas the English news channels' weekly impressions rose by over 130 per cent.

    The unprecedented crisis in the nation due to the spread of the novel coronavirus has led a tremendous surge in the viewership of news channels.

    TV Today Network’s Hindi news channel Aaj Tak, dominating the chart for the twelfth week straight, has reported growth of 150 per cent to 5,32,102 impressions in week 12 as compared to 2,16,024 in week 11. The channel, so far, has shown the biggest ever viewership gains this year alone.

    Achieving a new feat, Aaj Tak has become the number one channel with 24 crore reach in India's second category in week 12 than all its peers across categories such as news, GEC, and movie. Not just that, the channel has also been the leader in terms of viewership during Janta Curfew day, with over 66 million impressions and 1,98,96,832 weekly viewing minutes.

    Jumping to the second spot from fifth, ABP News Network’s Hindi news channel ABP News has grown mostly by over 160 per cent to 3,40,659 weekly impressions in week 12 as compared to 1,30,035 in the last week. This is the biggest ever weekly impressions the channel has achieved in 2020.

    Though the channel has slipped to the third position from second, Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ Hindi news channel Zee News has gained the third-highest viewership in the current week. The channel advanced by over 137 per cent to 337,359 impressions as against 142,089 in week 11.

    Retaining its place at the fourth spot, Network18’s Hindi news channel News18 India has also grown exponentially by around over 134 per cent to 305,732 impressions this week as compared to 130,391 impressions in the earlier week. The channel has garnered the all-time high reach on news channels of Network18 with over 22 crore reach in India 2+ category in week 12.

    Despite gaining over 115 per cent in terms viewership in week 12, India TV fell from the third position to last in the top five news channels list. The channel has gained 296,305 weekly impressions in the current week as compared to 137,578 impressions in the previous week of BARC.

    Being number one for the twelfth week straight, Republic Media Network’s English news channel Republic TV has surged by over 130 per cent to 1962 impressions this week as against 852 in the previous week. This is the biggest ever viewership gain, the channel has reported so far this year.

    Maintaining its stance at the second position, Times News Network’s English news channel Times Now has grown over by 113 per cent to 1375 impressions in week 12 as against 644 in week 11. The channel, so far, has shown the biggest ever viewership gains this year alone.

    TV Today Network’s English news channel India Today Television has gained most in percent-wise by over 184 per cent to 1190 impressions in week 12 as compared to 418 impressions in the previous week. The channel has turned out to be the most-watched channel in the megacities in one day, gaining total impressions of 4417 in week 12 of BARC.

    Not just that, India Today has also been the most preferred channel in the 15+ category during the first three days of lockdown period that began from 25 March and which falls in week 12 of BARC. The channel has also ranked number two with a rise of 24 per cent in both megacities and all India.

    Retaining its place at the fourth spot, Network18’s English news channel CNN-News18 has grown by over 122 per cent to 848 weekly impressions in the current week as compared to 381 in week 11.

    For the first-ever time, BBC World News has been featured in the in top five English news channels’ list with 565 weekly impressions in week 12 of BARC.

    A joint report released by BARC and Nielsen India on crisis consumption mentions that the news genre has shown around 300 per cent increase in terms of viewership across the general category (English, Hindi and regional).

    The business news channels in both Hindi and English languages have risen by 180 per cent in viewership.

    The report also points out that while the primetime consumption of news across the country has surged by over 250 per cent, non-prime time news slot saw a rise of 344 per cent in terms of viewership. However, perhaps for the first time, there has been a drop of over 15 per cent in viewership in general entertainment channels during the primetime slot.

  • News channels report second-best viewership pattern so far this year in week 11

    News channels report second-best viewership pattern so far this year in week 11

    MUMBAI: The coronavirus pandemic could be termed as a bane for the whole world, including India, but it certainly has become a boon for the news channels across genre in terms of viewership, a week eleven (14-20 March) data of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India shows.

    This is the second-best week for the news channels in terms of viewership as the first still remains week seven so far in 2020. The Hindi news channels in week 11 advanced by around 29 per cent, whereas English by over 26 per cent making it, possibly, the most-watched genre in the current week.

    Dominating the chart for the straight eleventh week, TV Today Network’s Hindi news channel Aaj Tak has substantially grown by over 40 per cent to 216,024 weekly impressions in the current week as against 153,379 impressions in the previous week. These are the best numbers, so far this year, the channel has gained in the current week, the last best was 163,089 impressions in week eight.

    Aaj Tak has increased its viewership 1.5 times than its peers in the current week of BARC. Not just that, the channel has also topped the list of Hindi news channels during prime minister Narendra Modi’s first address to the nation on 19 March. It achieved over 40,000 viewership followed by Zee News at the second position gaining at least 25,421 impressions.

    Retaining its second position in the top five channels list, Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ Hindi news channel Zee News has gained over 24 per cent to 142,089 impressions in week eleven as compared to 114,390 impressions in the last week.

    Moving one position up from fourth to third spot, India TV has garnered around 26 per cent to 137,578 impressions in the current week as compared to 109,636 impressions in the last week. Whereas Network18’s Hindi news channel News18 India has fallen to the fourth position; however, it has grown by over by 16 per cent to 130391 impressions this week versus 112125 in week eleven.

    ABP News Network Hindi news channel ABP News has been featured in the top five news channels list almost after four weeks in week eleven. Dethroning Republic Bharat altogether from the chart, ABP News being on the fifth position has gained 130,035 weekly impressions in the current week.

    Meanwhile, Republic Media Network’s English news channel Republic TV, maintaining its top spot in the top five channels’ list, has grown by over 26 per cent to 852 weekly impressions in week eleven as against 692 impressions in the previous week of BARC. These are the third-best numbers, in terms of viewership, Republic TV has achieved so far this year.

    Retaining its second and third position in the top five channels’ list, Times News Network’s Times Now and TV Today Network’s India Today English news channels gained over 28 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively, in week eleven. The former gained 644 impressions this week versus 501 in the last week, whereas the latter increased by 418 impressions as against 362 in the previous week.

    The English news channel of Network18 – CNN-News18 – has moved to the second last position from last in the top five news channels’ list. The channel has grown by over 64 per cent to 381 weekly impressions in the current week as compared to 232 impressions in the earlier week of BARC.

    Almost after two weeks, New Delhi Television’s English news channel NDTV 24×7 has garnered at least 273 weekly impressions in week eleven. The channel has dethroned the government-owned English news channels DD India from the top five news channels’ list altogether.

    The news channels across genres have continued its eyeballs gaining spree for the second straight week, according to the BARC. Viewers are consuming more news and updating themselves on the back of the novel virus spread. The positive cases in India have jumped to over 700 and at least 16 people so far have succumbed to the infection. 

  • Regional news channels see sharp rise in viewership during Covid-19

    Regional news channels see sharp rise in viewership during Covid-19

    MUMBAI:  There is a temporary shift in TV viewership patterns as Indians are forced to stay inside their homes due to the lock-down courtesy Covid-19, according to the latest BARC-Nielsen report. It shows that regional news channels are gaining viewership.

    While Marathi news consumption was up by 101 per cent, that of Tamil grew by 84 per cent. While Oriya news consumption was up by 78 per cent, Malayalam and Bangla news consumption grew by 75 per cent each. 

    While Gujarati news consumption witnessed a growth of 61 per cent, that of Kannada was up by 47 per cent. Whereas Telugu news consumption grew by 21 per cent, that of Punjabi was up by 16 per cent, and English news consumption grew by 39 per cent.

    This is good news given that Hindi news dominates otherwise. Hindi news consumption was up by 62 per cent with the daily average time spent (ATS) up by 17 per cent. The daily average reach witnessed a growth of 34 per cent and the weekly impressions was up by 57 per cent.

    The overall growth of the entire news industry was 57 per cent with daily average reach up by 34 per cent. Daily average time spent on total news is also up by 17 per cent.

    With people clamouring for more information, news is the primary destination for a lot of Indians. Which is why prime minister Narendra Modi’s national address on 24 March addressing the country about the 21-day lockdown had 197 million viewers. They were watching the PM through 201 news channels with a total of 3891 million minutes of viewing.

    It’s not only television where the news genre witnessed a huge increase in the viewership number; it grew on digital platforms as well. News apps saw eight per cent more users per week with an increase of 17 per cent in time spent per user per week. News websites were explored by 26 per cent more users. Additionally, the number of visits to a website by a user went up by 29 per cent. Clearly, all of them are seeking news on Covid-19.

    There was a 30 per cent jump in the news consumption in mini-metros; metro cities witnessed 12 per cent growth whereas growth in tier I and tier II cities was up by 14 per cent. As per the BARC-Nielsen report, the top 20 news apps witnessed 30 per cent increase in time spent. News aggregators saw a growth of 22 per cent and news apps saw 76 per cent increase.

    BARC also reported that even kids between the age group of two years to 14 years consumed 83 per cent of news. This is likely due to co-viewing with parents.

  • News channels spread awareness on Covid19 through unique campaigns

    News channels spread awareness on Covid19 through unique campaigns

    MUMBAI: During these testing times when coronavirus is spreading rapidly in the country, news channels have taken measures to make viewers more vigilant to fight this pandemic through various TV and social media campaigns.

    In this regard, each network is doing its bit by spreading awareness and helping the government to send positivity. Along with that, the channels are also trying to bust rumours and fake news regarding Covid19. Even prime minister Narendra Modi asked people to spare a thought for the journsliu  who are in the thick of this pandemic, reporting.

    Not just news channels, many brands have stepped forward and started a campaign with an aim to break the chain of virus spread.

    Times Network launched #IndiaFightsCoronaVirus, a consumer awareness campaign to fight and control the spread of the pandemic. Says Times Network’s president – strategy and business head – english entertainment cluster Vivek Srivastava, “It aims to encourage and empower the viewers with accurate and verified news, diffuse panic while offering uninterrupted news and entertainment.” 

    “Ensuring that the viewers are protected from misinformation and fake information, TIMES NOW, ET NOW and MIRROR NOW drives home the importance of fighting fear with factual and accurate information. News brands are also on top of the coverage with the content offerings like safety tips, do’s and don’ts, myth busters, and ask the expert among others,” adds Srivastava.

    In the digital sphere, the network is also leveraging its social media assets across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube and Tiktok through a series of curated short format videos led by the network’s anchors, that explain and bust myths around the virus and covers relevant questions and concerns of the viewers, explains Srivastava.

    Similarly, ABP News Network has come up with a public awareness campaign to address the virus. The campaign, which is called ‘#CoronaKoDhona,’ has garnered tremendous traction on television as well as the social media pages of ABP News. The video campaigning comprised of 13 short clips featuring the network’s anchors, presenting a short awareness message on the importance of handwashing.

    In this regard, ABP News Network chief executive officer Avinash Pandey, says: “When mankind is fighting a deadly pandemic, awareness and sensibility are the initial steps. Through this campaign, we aim to safeguard the health of the people by providing requisite information on the virus so that preventive measures can be taken effectively, while also dispelling fear & worry on the pandemic.”

    India TV has created a campaign “India TV Ki Pukar, Ghar pe Raho Iss Baar” with a campaign hashtag #StayAtHome, which is shown on its news channel and social media platforms. Moreover, the channel has also made other offline services available such as a 24×7 dedicated helpline to address viewer queries during distress.

    India TV marketing manager Aruna Jamwal says: “The idea is to ensure that in these testing times we should all come together, by staying away, and support country’s united response led by prime minister Narendra Modi in ensuring that his message should reach every Indian and each one of us take it as a responsibility upon us to abide by the same.”

    India TV digital has also been making all efforts that users across spectrum receive credible information at all times through its social media handles, which has millions of followers. Highpoints of all related shows on news channels are also interestingly packaged for dissemination on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube among others.

    India TV’s marketing manager also says: “The programming is not only dedicated to spreading credible knowledge, disseminate awareness as possible, but by also sharing expert opinions and spreading the list of do’s and don’ts at regular intervals. We are also creating audience-connect specials for a real-time face-fo-face query redressals to the benefit of millions sitting in their homes.”

  • News channels gain more eyeballs amid corona pandemic in week 10 of BARC

    News channels gain more eyeballs amid corona pandemic in week 10 of BARC

    MUMBAI: The viewership pattern of news channels across genre has improved marginally during the tenth week of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) as compared to the previous week. The Hindi category news channels grew by around 15 per cent, whereas English advanced by 18 per cent.

    All thanks to the novel coronavirus, the viewership this week (7-13 March) grew as the audience was glued to the news TV screens to get the timely update of the virus and the rising infected cases in India. 

    News channels, in week nine (29 February to 6 March), couldn’t maintain the shine from week eight when the virus had entered India earlier this month and the rising cases have made people consume more news as it is the only authentic source of information.

    TV Today Network’s Aaj Tak (Hindi) and India Today (English) news channels have grown by over 24 per cent in terms of viewership in the current week as compared to the last.

    In the straight tenth week, Aaj Tak has ranked at the first position in the top five Hindi news channels list with 1,53,379 weekly impressions in week ten as compared to 1,23,507 impressions in week nine. While maintaining its third position in the top five English news channels list, India Today has recorded 362 weekly impressions this week versus 291 in the earlier.

    Regaining its second spot in terms of viewership, Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ Hindi news channel Zee News grew marginally by around 14 per cent to 1,14,390 weekly impressions in week ten as against 1,00,538 weekly impressions in week nine of BARC.

    Network18’s Hindi news channel News18 India has improved its performance in terms of viewership and rank. The channel that jumped one position up to the third spot, grew by around 13 per cent to 1,12,125 weekly impressions this week as compared to 99,504 impressions in week nine.

    Similarly, falling two positions down at fourth rank, India TV failed to maintain its shine but has marginally grown by over 6 per cent, in terms of viewership, to 1,09,363 impressions as compared to 1,02,710 weekly impressions in the previous week.

    Being at the last position since the last three weeks of BARC, Republic Media Network’s Hindi News channel Republic Bharat has grown by over 14 per cent to 97,200 weekly impressions in the current week as against 85,184 impressions in the earlier week.

    In the English category, the undefeated Republic TV has still maintained its number one position in the list of top five channels. The channel gained over 17 per cent to 692 impressions in week ten as compared to 589 impressions in week nine of BARC. Similarly, remaining firm at its second position Times News Network’s English news channel Times Now grew by over 20 per cent, in terms of viewership, to 501 impressions in the current week versus 416 impressions in the previous week.

    The government-owned English news channel DD India and Network18’s English news channels CNN-News18 have retained their previous week’s fourth and fifth positions, respectively. The former marginally grew by around 12 per cent to 248 weekly impressions, whereas the latter advanced by over 13 per cent to 232 weekly impressions in the current week of BARC.

    With the rising coronavirus cases and the situation being grimmer, the viewership pattern of news channels is likely to increase. The major growth in terms of viewership is expected to come from business news channels amid the stock market crash in the ongoing week due to the virus scare.

  • News channels grow exponentially in BARC week 8 on the back of Trump visit, Delhi riots

    News channels grow exponentially in BARC week 8 on the back of Trump visit, Delhi riots

    MUMBAI: The viewership of news channels have risen exponentially in week 8 (22-28 February) of Broadcast Audience Research Council India (BARC) as compared to week 7 (15-21 February).

    In the current week, English news channels' combined viewership has grown substantially by over 82 per cent, whereas the Hindi news channels' weekly impressions rose by over 42 per cent.

    Week eight saw two national important events in the country: United States’ president Donald Trump’s official two-day state visit to India and the riots in north-eastern part of the national capital on the back of the Citizenship Amendment Act protest.

    In week seven, news channels had failed to maintain the shine and tumbled largely with respect to impressions as the viewership of the news broadcasters is very much dependent on the events that usually happen in the country and across the globe.

    TV Today Network’s Hindi news channel Aaj Tak, dominated the chart for the eighth week straight and has reported growth by over 60 per cent to 163089 weekly impressions as compared to 101399 weekly impressions in week seven. The channel, so far, has shown the biggest viewership gain this year alone.

    Climbing two positions up, Zee News has gained the second-highest viewership in the current week. The channel advanced by 53 per cent to 122585 weekly impressions as against 80122 impressions in week seven. Zee News has gradually paved its way to the second position this week from the fifth position in week six of BARC.

    Retaining its place at the third spot, India TV gained its viewership by around 35 per cent to 119531 weekly impressions in week eight as compared to 88603 impressions in week seven.

    Failing to make in the list of top five channels for the previous two weeks, Republic Media Network’s Hindi news channel Republic Bharat has grabbed the fourth spot. The channel has maintained its stance all these weeks this year in the urban category of top five news channels list.

    Despite being a rise in the viewership pattern, the Network18’s Hindi news channel News18 India has fallen to fifth position this week from the second spot in the previous week. The channel grew by around 19 per cent to 106683 weekly impressions in week eight as compared to 90255 impressions in week seven of BARC.

    In the English category, Republic Media Network’s English news channel Republic TV has grown substantially by over 85 per cent to 1083 impressions this week as compared to 585 in the previous week. Republic TV has been ranked number one, so far, this year in the top five English news channels.

    Gaining most viewership in percent-wise, Times News Network’s English news channel Times Now has gained over by 90 per cent to 785 weekly impressions in week eight as against 413 in week seven. Like Republic, the channel has been maintaining the second spot in the list of top five channels so far.

    Both India Today of TV Today Network and CNN News18 of Network18 have been ranked on the same position as that of last week – third and fourth. Both channels have grown exponentially in terms of weekly impressions; India Today grew by around 59 per cent to 457 impressions, whereas CNN News18 advanced by over 87 per cent to 379 impressions this week.

    Dethroning NDTV 24×7, DD India has been featured in the top five English news channels list almost after two weeks. The government-owned English news channel has gained 347 weekly impressions in week eight of BARC.

  • News channels unveil programming, content strategy for Trump’s visit to India

    News channels unveil programming, content strategy for Trump’s visit to India

    MUMBAI: When the US president comes visiting, news channels need to stay on their toes. Indian news channels are now gearing up for a special and round-the-clock coverage of the maiden visit of the United States of America’s president Donald Trump to India on 24-25 February.

    Times Now, Mirror Now and ET Now will bring a 360-degree news reportage to its viewers on US president, Donald Trump’s first-ever visit to India. Times Now with ‘Modi Trump Summit’, will run a curated programming line-up all through the day on 24 and 25 February offering viewers a comprehensive update on Trump’s visit.

    Mirror Now will begin rolling coverage from 11 am anchored by news editor, Tanvi Shukla and will also host a special Urban Debate edition at 9 pm. On day-2 of Trump’s visit, it will focus on the joint statement between two nations on trade, terrorism and defence and host a two-hour primetime special show on the key takeaways and the outcome of the meeting.

    Unlike Times News Network’s news channels, Network18’s CNN-News18 has lined-up exclusive programming on the first official visit of the international dignitaries. Titled ‘Namaste Trump’, the special reportage will cover every facet of President Trump’s Indian tour.

    “The programming will comprise engaging news reports on Trump's India visit in view of the upcoming US presidential elections. Starting 22 February, the channel has lined-up non-stop programming capturing major highlights of the US President Trump’s India visit,” says News18 Network’s chief executive officer – English and business news cluster Basant Dhawan.

    Tracking the bilateral discussions on key trade and political issues, the channel will also analyse the socio-political implications of the entire tour.

    As Trump’s visit to India going to be one of the biggest televised events this year, Dhawan says, “It has led to a great deal of advertiser interest. We have been actively engaging with the advertising community and our teams have been working closely to create innovative solutions for our clients.”

    Times Now and Mirror Now have deputed over 15 reporters each covering the visit from Ahmedabad, Agra and Delhi. Whereas, Network18’s CNN-News18 on-ground reporting coverage from Ahmedabad will be led by Maha Siddiqui —senior editor of the network, and the channel's programming will be led by the channels executive editor Bhupendra Chaubey along with other senior editors of the group network.

    In this regard, the CEO – English and business news cluster says, “Our reporters will be reporting live from ground zero – whether it is bilateral meetings or First Lady’s visit to schools in New Delhi.”

    The US president, who already is enroute to India along with wife Melania, will inaugurate Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and address at least one lakh attendees. “The programming of the network will aim to draw a parallel between ‘Howdy, Modi’ in Houston last year and ‘Namaste Trump’ in India this year,” explains Dhawan.

    Times Now reportage will highlight a national and global political outlook, ET NOW will cover the economic and business aspects of Trump’s visit. Whereas, Mirror Now will present the key takeaways for India from this visit, with an emphasis on trade and visa issues. All three channels of TNN will use LiveU, OB Vans and phone cameras to air the live feed.

    To decode what it essentially means for India-US ties, TNN’s Mirror Now will bring expert voices that include Barkha Dutt – Senior Journalist, Maroof Raaza – strategic and defence expert and Anil Trigunyat – former diplomat and senior journalists from the Washington Post amongst others.

    "With the CNN advantage, we have exclusive access to international experts and news stories. Additionally, CNN’s journalists travelling to India as part of President Trump’s contingent will also share their outlook with CNN-News18 exclusively,” opines Dhawan.

  • News Broadcasters Federation meets today in Mumbai

    News Broadcasters Federation meets today in Mumbai

    Top executives of India’s news Industry, part of News Broadcasters Federation – the largest ever federation of news channels will meet today in Mumbai in what will be the biggest meeting of regional and national broadcasters at one platform. 

    In their first meeting since the announcement, the top body will meet to chart out common interests and objectives of India’s largest body on news broadcasters – NBF. The top executives will chart out the modalities and representation of the body and fix timelines so that NBF rolls ahead with full steam.

    The NBF will represent broadcasters from all languages and parts of the country. It is the first news federation in India that is not centered out of New Delhi. More than 50 news channels have come together to form the News Broadcasters Federation – the largest-ever federation of news channels. 

    This is the first time in the history of Indian broadcasting that a group of regional and national broadcasters have come together to form a body that represents their combined interests and perspective on matters related to the news broadcasting industry. 

    When the NBF meets today, it will be the first time in Indian television history, that representatives of every region in India will truly be represented and present at a single platform, which stands at the core of NBF’s objective.

  • I&B Minister asks broadcasters to make shows accessible to the hearing-impaired

    I&B Minister asks broadcasters to make shows accessible to the hearing-impaired

    MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced the implementation of accessibility standard for TV programmes for persons with hearing impairment from 16 September 2019.

    I&B minister Prakash Javadekar announced that all news channels will carry a news bulletin with sign language interpretation at least once per day and all TV channels and service providers will run at least one programme per week with subtitles / captioning.

    The overall implementation of the standards will be done in a phase-wise manner in the next five years. The government will review the policy after two years.

    The announcement was made in order to enhance the accessibility of television programmes for the hearing impaired which will be done through the provision of captioning and Indian Sign Language.

    Live news, live and deferred live content/events such as sports, live music shows, award shows, live reality shows, live debates, scripted/ unscripted reality shows, etc. and advertisements/ teleshopping content have been exempted.

    Javadekar also announced that accessibility standards for films for visually impaired through provision of narration facility in between dialogues are also under examination.