ITV

Tag: Rahul Shivshankar

  • Rahul Shivshankar to join Network18 as consulting editor

    Rahul Shivshankar to join Network18 as consulting editor

    Mumbai: Noted TV news editor and anchor Rahul Shivshankar is all set to join Network18 Group as a consulting editor.

    He will join the stellar line-up of TV news anchors, editors and writers at India’s largest news network.

    Commenting on his new role, Shivshankar said, “I am very excited to be associated with Network18, which has evolved into the country’s most influential news network on the back of its unflinching commitment to reporting the facts that speak truth to the people.”

    “It is a privilege to add to the plethora of sober reflections, critical news analysis, and balanced voices that are already platformed on the network by some of the news industry’s leading lights,” he added.

    Shivshankar will contribute across platforms at the network.

    The group presently runs India’s top TV news brands such as CNN-News18, News18 India, CNBC TV18, CNBC Awaaz and News18 regional channels. The network is also home to some of India’s top digital news brands such as Moneycontrol, Firstpost, News18.com, among others.

    Welcoming Rahul Shivshankar to the group, Network18 CEO (digital) & president-corporate strategy Puneet Singhvi said, “Rahul is a distinctive journalist and editor with an unparalleled audience connect. He has been the face of prime time TV journalism and a leading newspaper columnist for almost two decades. His work will add a fresh dimension to our coverage of big events, both on TV and digital.”

    A news industry veteran with nearly three decades of experience in print and television journalism, Shivshankar began his career as a reporter with Times of India, where he broke a large number of stories and started writing for the edit page as one of the youngest leader writers at the paper.

    Later, he became part of the core team that launched Times Now and continued to rise through the ranks.

    As editor-in-chief of Times Now, he played a pivotal role in catapulting the channel to its next phase. He has interviewed many important newsmakers including Narendra Modi, Benjamin Netanyahu, Boris Johnson, Bill Gates, Hillary Clinton, Mike Pompeo, Anthony Fauci and many others.

    Shivshankar has received critical acclaim for his coverage of the 26/11 Mumbai Terror attacks. He was invited to contribute to an anthology of investigative narratives about the attacks published by Roli Books. He has also authored a soon-to-be released book on the 2024 Elections, commissioned by Penguin Random House.

  • NT Summit & Awards: Experts discuss the importance and relevance of authentic news coverage

    NT Summit & Awards: Experts discuss the importance and relevance of authentic news coverage

    Mumbai: Is television new coverage balanced or has news journalism become a business? Should news broadcasters present the facts clearly while programming it? Do you think that the coverage of TV news is becoming more communal veering away from national issues such as inflation, rising liquid petroleum gas (LPG) prices and unemployment? Experts & opinion leaders in the news broadcast industry deliberated their views and talked about these tough questions head-on at the recently held News Television (NT) Summit in New Delhi.

    The powerful session was joined by Indian National Congress national spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed; Times Now editorial director & editor-in-chief Rahul Shivshankar; Zee Media Corporation editor Rajnish Ahuja; Samajwadi Party national secretary & spokesman Rajeev Rai; BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla; CNN-News18 managing director Zakka Jacob and moderated by media professional & former editor of Star News Ravina Raj Kohli.

    Mohamed highlighted some data and mentioned that in May, 65 percent of primetime news was dedicated to communal issues and only one percent to LPG price rise. In April, 23 percent of primetime airtime was given to communal issues and seven per cent to the petrol price rise. The coverage of the film ‘The Kashmir Files’ accounted for 20 per cent of primetime news and eight per cent was allotted for fuel hike coverage. In December 2021, 22 percent of primetime coverage was on communal issues.

    She pointed out that there are well-known examples of both historical and modern media’s role in amplifying hate and leading to atrocities such as genocides such as ‘Radio Rwanda’ and the role of ‘Facebook in the massacre of Rohingyas’.

    Mohamed also stated that the role of the media is to ask difficult questions from the established government. “In the US, when a CNN reporter was struck out of a press conference by ex-president Donald Trump, he took the matter to the Supreme Court of the United States. Even right-wing news channels such as Fox News stood by the reporter. The media stood its ground and that’s why Trump is out,” she added further.

    Times Now’s Editor-in-chief Rahul Shivshankar noted that every government is worried about the influence of unregulated media. There are troves of misinformation sent via WhatsApp but by the time someone points it out, the fake news has made the damage.

    BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla remarked that in the past journalists always had an incestuous relationship with politics and power. “Every media house has to cater to certain compulsions whether it be commercial or political,” he said. “Today, we are in an era of democratisation thanks to prime minister Modi and digital India. Everyone has access to a cheap data connection and fast data. I don’t think the media needs lectures from anybody, especially the opposition or the people in power. They do a fine job.”

    CNN-News18’s managing director Zakka Jacob was of the view that the agenda on TV was not dictated so much by politics and commercial factors as much by what made a great picture. He said, “The best pictures are those that make it to TV. All the news channels were covering the Rajya Sabha elections but due to a picture story, everyone’s agenda had changed in an hour or two. We tend to confuse news with top bands and ticker bands but at the end of the day it is about great pictures.”

    “It is easy to belittle news channels but at the end of the day, it is the easiest medium to switch off from or change the channel. If viewers are not watching opinion shows on TV, then we’ll be the first ones to cut it from the programming. We are answerable to what the viewer wants to know about,” he further added.

    The event was supported by Dalet who was ‘co-powered by’ partner as well as industry support partners GTPL Hathway, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, JW Player and Live U.

  • Times Network rejigs top leadership, elevates Rahul Shivshankar to editorial director

    Times Network rejigs top leadership, elevates Rahul Shivshankar to editorial director

    Mumbai: The Times Network on Tuesday announced key appointments and elevations in its leadership team. On the editorial front, Rahul Shivshankar has been elevated to editorial director. In addition to the new role, he will continue to lead the editorial mandate of Times Now as its editor-in-chief.

    The announcement comes at a time when the broadcast network is gearing up for the launch of its Hindi news channels, Times Now Navbharat HD and ET Now Swadesh. On Monday, the company named Times Network group editor Navika Kumar as the editor-in-chief of the new channel.

    Times Network, MD and CEO, MK Anand said, “2020 was a tumultuous year for the broadcasters and while we were severely tested by the pandemic, Times Network not just managed to harness every headwind in its path but continued to march ahead successfully by setting new industry benchmarks. The superior talent of our leadership team is one of key pillars that drove the network’s significant growth during these unprecedented times and accelerated our overall digital transformation efforts. Their elevations are a recognition of their contribution to the growth of the company.”

    Strengthening its digital portfolio, the company has elevated Vivek Srivastava to president, strategy & operations – Broadcast & Digital. He will lead the digital operations of the network and oversee product strategy, audience development and operations planning for both digital and broadcast businesses.

    Savvy Dilip has been appointed as executive vice president & head- digital growth. Savvy will lead product development, content led audience growth, technology based digital consumer experiences, social media amplification and online marketing for all the digital platforms of the Network. A seasoned professional, Savvy brings in-depth expertise across Marketing, Media, Product, Technology and Entrepreneurship. In her new role, Savvy will be reporting to Vivek Srivastava.

    Other senior management promotions include Manish Wadkar, senior vice president & head – Legal, Pranav Bakshi, senior vice president – digital, Hina Jafri, vice president & head – Corporate Communications, Poonam Bavdanker, vice president – Human Resources, Saurabh Bhowal, vice president & head – content and programming, Zoom & The Zoom Studios and Mihir Bhatt, vice president & executive editor, Times Influence.

    Continuing to play a pivotal role in aiding the Network’s growth, leadership team comprising Jagdish Mulchandani – chief operating Officer and executive president, Jignesh Kenia, executive vice president & head – corporate strategy & digital transformation, Gaurav Dhawan, executive vice president – revenue and S. Srivathsan as executive vice president and Head – human resources will drive their respective portfolios for the Network.

  • Bollywood associations & producers file legal suits against Times Now & Republic TV

    Bollywood associations & producers file legal suits against Times Now & Republic TV

    NEW DELHI: The trouble surrounding the nation’s news broadcasting industry does not seem to be dying down. Last week, a few channels got embroiled in the TRP manipulation scandal, and now the Indian film fraternity appears to have joined forces against them.

    Four Bollywood industry associations and 34 leading film producers have filed a civil suit before the Delhi High Court against Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami and Pradeep Bhandari, and Times Now’s Rahul Shivshankar and Navika Kumar, on their coverage of the drugs probe being carried out by the Narcotics Control Bureau in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput death case.

    The suit urges the court to restrain these channels – along with their editors and journalists – from making “irresponsible, derogatory and defamatory remarks” against Bollywood and the members of the film fraternity. 

    The producers have taken exception to several derogatory phrases used during the coverage such as ‘dirt,’ ‘filth,’ ‘scum,’ ‘druggies’ and expressions such as ‘it is Bollywood where the dirt needs to be cleaned,’ ‘all the perfumes of Arabia cannot take away the stench and the stink of this filth and scum of the underbelly of Bollywood,’ ‘This is the dirtiest industry in the country,’ and ‘cocaine and LSD drenched Bollywood’.

    The suit states, "The livelihood of persons associated with Bollywood is being severely impacted by the smear campaign being run by the Defendants. This is in addition to the ongoing pandemic which has resulted in extreme revenues and work opportunity loss. The privacy of the members of Bollywood is being invaded, and their reputations are being irreparably damaged by painting the entire Bollywood as criminals, seeped in drug culture, and making being part of Bollywood as synonymous with criminal acts in the public imagination."

    In their plea, the producers have asked Delhi High Court to pass directions ordering Times Now and Republic TV to withdraw, recall and take down all the defamatory content published by them against Bollywood. The suit also seeks that the channels and the four people mentioned abide by the provisions of the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994.

    While the producers don't call for blanket media gag in the Sushant Singh Rajput investigation, they want the court to stop reportage that violates the law. The suit further asks the channels not to conduct media trials of Bollywood personalities and to stop interfering with the privacy of those associated with Bollywood.

    Reacting to the lawsuit, Times Now news editor Rahul Shivshankar said in a tweet that filing cases against journalists "that have only sought justice for those who are wronged" would set a bad precedent.

     

     

    Navika Kumar also took to Twitter, saying: "All the A-listers can come together but India will continue to fight for the truth. You can’t intimidate us."

     

     

  • TIMES NOW unveils exclusive programming line up for 71st Republic Day

    TIMES NOW unveils exclusive programming line up for 71st Republic Day

    MUMBAI: Commemorating the 71st Republic Day of India, TIMES NOW, India’s leading English news channel unveils an exciting programming line-up of thought-provoking shows. Shedding light on the unspoken, untold and unseen stories, TIMES NOW brings to its viewers three curated shows, Dispatches from India, Republic Day – behind the scenes and 2020 – India’s decade, this weekend 25 and 26 January 2020.

    1. Republic Day – Behind the Scenes –  For the first time ever on television, TIMES NOW’s  Consulting Editor – Politics, Padmaja Joshi, visits the practice sessions before the final Republic Day March on Rajpath, revealing the painstaking preparations that goes into planning and practicing the tunes that rouse every Indian as the country celebrates its Republic Day. The one hour feature show will air this Saturday, 25 January 2020 at 2.30 pm and 10.30 pm, brings the unique story of 100s of bands drawn from the Armed forces, schools and paramilitary forces and 1000s of men and women who have spent decades perfecting the art.

    2. 2020 – India’s decade – On January 25, 2020 at 6 pm, TIMES NOW’s Editor-in-Chief Rahul Shivshankar on the marquee Republic Day show discusses the health of Indian democracy by invoking 3 contentious subjects that could impact India in the coming years. With eminent panelists that includes N Ram – Chairman, The Hindu Group, Anand Ranganathan – Author and Scientist, Pawan Varma – Former Rajya Sabha MP, Aryama Sundaram – Senior Advocate, Faizan Mustufa-Vice-chancellor, NALSAR, Sachidananda Murthy – Resident Editor & Columnist, Malayala Manorama & The Week, Sanjeev Srivastava – Senior Journalist,  the engaging debate will discuss the topics – Constitution amended not imperiled, Dissent under threat in democratic India and Can Congress Challenge BJP’s Dominance.

    3. Dispatches from India – On  26 January 2020 at 10 pm, TIMES NOW brings to its viewers a heart-rending narrative of the brave Indian citizens from the borders, conflict zones, and maritime boundary lines, who are pushed to the edge to fight for survival. The one-hour special show will showcase the untold stories of people, who are still being devoid of their fundamental rights as an Indian citizen even after 70 years of being a republic nation.

  • TIMES NOW launches ‘Confront’ with Rahul Shivshankar

    TIMES NOW launches ‘Confront’ with Rahul Shivshankar

    MUMBAI: TIMES NOW, India’s leading English news channel from Times Network has launched a special programme, ‘Confront’ with Rahul Shivshankar, Editor-in-Chief, TIMES NOW.

    TIMES NOW continues to raise the bar of television news in the country with its innovative journalism. Moderated by Rahul Shivshankar, ‘Confront’, the one-hour weekend show features two prominent panellists debate social and political on topics including State issues, economy, elections, etc., with a conclusive end to the discourse.

    Moving away from the contentious debates where panellists often talk at each other rather than talk to each other, Rahul Shivshankar conducts the well-researched debate with decorum, focused to provide the viewers with clear, insightful information. Two weeks since its premier, the show has featured notable figures – Jay Panda, Former Member of Parliament, Yogendra Yadav, National President, Swaraj India, Sudheendra Kulkarni, Politician and Kanwal Sibal, Former Foreign Secretary. This week’s episode of ‘Confront’ on Saturday, August 25, will feature Mukul Rohtagi, Former Attorney General of India and Mohan Parasaran, Former Solicitor General of India as the panellists, where they will discuss claims that the NDA is meddling in Judicial affairs.

    Speaking on the new new show, Rahul Shivshankar, Editor-in-Chief, TIMES NOW said, “Confront is launched with a clear objective to provide conclusive facts and information out of the confronting conversations. The show breaks away from the typical debate formats, which leave little room for conversations, where the viewers are left with no answers to the burning social issues. Through this show, we aim to provide uninterrupted, transparent and healthy discussions to burning issues that need to be addressed on priority”.

  • Times Now will be globally ‘regional’, non-mirror HD by next quarter

    MUMBAI: Success does not end at leadership, it begins!

    With an aim to create value and make a difference, he is a man on a mission. He quit News X in November 2016 to fill the the big shoes of Arnab Goswami. Known to be an insightful, incisive journalist, Rahul Shivshankar joined Times Now on 15 December as the chief editor, coming back after six years. In his second stint, Shivshankar has a clear strategy in place for growth and expansion of the undisputed leader in the English News space, Times Now.

    Leading a channel that has already set a high benchmark is not an easy task. And, he seems to be doing a fairly decent role as Goswami’s replacement.

    Right after rebranding its real estate channel Magicbricks Now to Mirror Now, Times Network is all geared up to launch the HD feed of Times Now by the next quarter (Q2). In an exclusive interview with www.indiantelevision.com after his appointment, Shivshankar shares his experience after joining the network, his game plan with Times Now, its programming, morning time slot, anchors, Mirror Now, the network’s digital properties, launch of Republic TV, etc.

    Edited excerpts:

    It’s been four months since your appointment in Times Now. Was it difficult to fill Goswami’s shoes? How has been the response both, editorially, and from the industry?

    I have done this for two other channels. I think, for me, it was, in one sense, working with a lot of familiar faces. I have worked in two other newsrooms also in a very senior position and ran them. So, I have great experience in carrying things around. I am a team player by nature. This new role was not discomforting.

    What initiatives have you worked on with MK Anand? Remonetise India being one of them.

    At a strategy level we have been discussing a lot of things. Some of them are already on air now — Mirror Now, for instance. Times Now is going HD very soon. It will not be a mirror of the SD version. Times Now HD will have diffferent programming. All the backend is ready. It is all a matter of plugging in and playing. 

    There is going to be a much differentiated Times Now. The channel is going to evolve into a hydra-headed entity. This will not just redefine the way you are looking, it is about redefining content. Times Now is spread across 100 countries. We are going to use our HD technology to variegate content. So, for different markets you will have different content. Times Now will become a multiple platform.

    When I joined, I saw that we were interested in only one Times Now which we have been pushing and defending for 12 years. All these years, we had not done anything different. Success does not end at leadership, it begins. The journey to innovation comes after you become a leader. The previous dispensation was in some ways complacent.

    Here is an opportunity for a brand that you can differentiate in so many ways. You can make so much value. So much capital and content is locked up.

    We want to go globally regional with the channel. We will have different types of Times Now. Maybe we will do an Asia feed which will have content about Asia or an America or Europe feed. We will become a truly global news entity. We will curate content for different markets. Even with Times Now regionally, we might have a regional feed competing in Karnataka with the local channels. There are a lot of things that we have planned.

    Who is the channel competing with?

    We are competing with ourselves, to better ourselves. The platform that I want to create out of the start that I have inherited is one that put facts right in the center. A lot of people say that facts are for Wikipedia, its plain vanilla. When people say this, they are doing a disservice to journalism. They are doing disservice to the viewers. Are people trying to say facts are incidental of people’s rights? Do they not need to be informed about facts? After that, you can take informed decisions. But, fact is the soul of journalism.

    If you see the show I present, I try at nightly basis to put facts out there because I do not want to take my viewers for granted. I don’t believe that the viewer should be treated with contempt. What is this — if you want facts, then look at Wikipedia? It’s contemptuous, professional hubris.

    There are entertainment channels out there that have no regard for facts. There are the Kapil Sharmas of the world, they are also very successful. But, if your business model is based on a psyche of infotainment quotient, that is also there. It has viewers.

    We are very clear. Times Now will put the facts first.

    How has been the recovery of your revenues post demonetisation in the last three months?

    It’s looking very good. GEC has started to recover a lot of money from the market. The market is coming back. I think we have to focus on remonetising India. That is what we did. We were quick to understand that this was a short-term pain, and a long-term gain.

    We realised that whether you like it or not, this is a move people will have to stick to for a while because we have created this problem ourselves. Corruption is not created by vacuum. It’s created by stakeholders. We had to pay the price, and we did.

    What about ‘The Newshour’? Is it doing well? Do you plan to change the format? I believe the viewership has declined after Goswami’s exit.

    A certain number of viewers who wanted a particular type of narrative have left. But, the channel’s leadership is there. We are getting 40 per cent share every day on The Newshour. How much more can we aspire for?

    I think it is important to give value. And I think when there is a change in the way you are presenting things, when you are moving from one paradigm to another, this will happen. We are adding viewers also. I don’t think 229 per cent higher from any other channel was our leadership on the counting day. Never in the history of Times Now have we had this viewership. I think people re incidental to news.

    So, there was a period of change when people were expecting certain things from a particular slot. Obviously that has changed but, the aggression has not. The advocacy has not. We continue to strongly advocate people’s issues.

    Times Now also plans to start a morning band. What is the programming strategy? How will you attract viewers to your channel with the existing  competition in the industry?

    I cannot talk about it. The moment I use the word “differentiator”, you will be able to piece together our strategy. This is at a tactical level. We have got a very paradigm altering plan for the mornings. It’s going to redefine news TV.

    Will you strengthen your faces on the channel? Will it be about face or news?

    Yes. We will strengthen the faces on Times Now. My predecessors were very focused on one individual. I think that is not how it should be. I believe networks should be built around many people, and we should all share value. In no other country in the world will you have a photograph of one person plastered in six places across the screen. You look at Aaj Tak, you don’t even see the anchors. You look at international channels, there are several anchors with different styles and different hours and are equally successful.

    I think it is very important to acknowledge the contribution of several other people. I believe in rewarding people who have done fantastically well. It’s high time we repaid the people who supported us. They are very talented. Without their hard work, you will not have any brand. So the time has come to recognise them.

    You have rebranded MagicBricks Now to Mirror Now. What was the reason?

    I think there was a demand for a product which was at some level more variegated in content. The start we made with Magicbricks was a good one. But, the response we were getting to the 4-6 hours that we were putting out was so overwhelming that we realised that under the rubric our realty, property, etc, there were many issues that people face — such as civic issues. And, nothing exists in isolation. We wanted to acknowledge these other realities, and therefore we wanted to go 24 hours. The response is huge.

    People wanted us to take up issues which were limited to the logo and branding. We could not justify that.

    So, what is the programming like? Will it also have a celebrity component as its print segment, Mumbai Mirror which is famous for its Bollywood content? Will the print and TV journalists work together?

    Those are things that are coming up, but there is crime — for instance. The programming is premature. There are a lot of things we might inhibit and lot more where we might want to expand. So, I don’t want to deceive anyone. Everything and anything that touches the heart of the city goes into Mirror. It’s a very simple equation.

    Yes, the print and TV journalists are working together because we have great synergy across. We have so many different platforms and stories from everywhere. And, Mumbai Mirror does some fantastic work. We will be partnering those different levels.

    How do you see things changing once Arnab launches his channel?

    It is good to have competition in the industry. The more the merrier.

    Your social media followers are less than that of Republic TV. You are lagging there. How do you plan to leverage it further?

    We will figure that out as we go along.

    What about your websites? How do you plan to manage your digital sites with India Times and Republic giving you a strong competition there?

    We are big on all digital platforms, and are working on our digital strategy.

  • Times Now to air special show on election results with eminent panelists

    MUMBAI: Times Now is all set to redefine election coverage with Mandate 2017. With accurate predictions in exit polls over the last few years, the channel claimed to be known as India’s Election News Headquarters, plans to be at the forefront of election news coverage.

    Result Day Live, for the forthcoming elections results will be aired on 11 March from 6 am onwards. The show will feature a new-age look at election result analysis along with several unique properties that help viewers understand what is the impact of their opinions on election day.

    Times Now chief editor Rahul Shivshankar and managing editor (politics) Navika Kumar will host this special show. The duo will be joined by a panel of eminent experts and senior journalists like Neerja Chowdhury, R Rajagopalan, Saba Naqvi, Kumar Ketkar, Alok Mehta, editor Nayi Duniya Shahid Siddiqui, founder edit Platter.com Sanjeev Srivastava, Public Affairs analyst Rajeev Desai, and Times of India consulting editor Nalin Mehta.

    Moving away from traditional analysis like swing and vote patterns, the channel will use big data analytics and mathematical models to bring the viewer holistic news watching experience this along with a stellar panel of former journalists and political analysts.

    The counting for these votes and results of five Indian states including Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand will be declared on 11 March 2017.

  • Times Now: Navika Kumar elevated as managing editor – politics

    Times Now: Navika Kumar elevated as managing editor – politics

    MUMBAI: Times Network has elevated Navika Kumar as the managing editor – politics at Times Now.

    A post graduate in economics and known for her extensive interest in Indian politics, Kumar has been credited for investigating and breaking some of the most prolific stories which include “Office for Profit” story that led to the resignation of Sonia Gandhi, the CWG scam that led to the exit of Suresh Kalmadi, the Augusta chopper scam and Aircel Maxis deal to name a few.

    In her new role, Kumar will lead the political team and will guide the channel to scale greater heights by upholding the journalistic tradition of breaking exclusive stories that epitomize the channel’s position of ‘Action Begins Here.’ Based out of Delhi, she will directly report to Times Now chief editor Rahul Shivshankar.

    Times Network MD and CEO MK Anand said, “Navika is known for her level of dexterity in handling both political and economic news and is a leading political historian and commentator of the current decade.”

    Shivshankar asserted, “Navika is known for her extensive knowledge of Indian politics and business which reflects in the kind of stories she has broken so far.”

    Kumar added, “Politics is the life blood of a vibrant democracy like India. Along with my colleagues at Times Now, we will set new standards in objective political reporting for all our valued stakeholders.”

  • Times’ Rahul faces ‘India Upfront’ from 8pm today

    Times’ Rahul faces ‘India Upfront’ from 8pm today

    MUMBAI: Times Now, one of the most popular English news channels in India, is launching ‘India Upfront’ with Rahul Shivshankar’. As the name suggests it is a path breaking new show that will put hard facts – upfront — for the nation to assess. It will be a 60 minute show Monday to Friday at 8 pm, starting today, 23 January, 2017 hosted by Rahul Shivshankar, Times Now chief editor.

    Shivshankar said, “The show fills a massive void at prime time on news channels as most of them have fallen victim to the temptation of putting rhetoric ahead of facts therefore compromising on long-held values that separate news from propaganda.”

    He further reiterated that through the show, Times Now will bring back the focus on facts that will construct the narrative around verifiable information to the viewers with an all-around holistic view of events that touch their lives.

    Times Now, known for its vociferous debates and also seen as agents of change by the Indian diaspora in over 88 countries, is launching the show with a vision to present, captivate and inform viewers about daily events that affect the citizens of the country.