News Broadcasting
Low on expectations, Sahara Samay surprises
It is still early days but a little over two weeks on air indicates that the of Sahara Samay Rashtriya‘s efforts to be different have succeeded at least from the branding point of view – but not in terms of cutting edge content.
Still, it is important to mention that the Sahara group didn‘t have any experience of running a news channel unlike NDTV or Star India or TV Today so it has certainly come through its initial birth pangs without too much of a hiccup.
Outside the channel‘s content, what needs noting is that it has got carriage across the board on virtually all cable platforms where Sahara‘s target audience is located. And that is a critical development considering the distribution difficulties that NDTV‘s two channels and the TV Today Network‘s Headlines Today are facing.
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This a team which is being built by Shireen and Arup Ghosh, while others have stalwarts strewn all over. Somewhere behind all this is the reassuring figure of veteran television presenter and “advisor” Vinod Dua.
Overall look and feel of the channel Sahara Samay uses a dynamic circular logo (which does not carry the channel‘s name) as against the others which have logos incorporating the names of the channels. The logo (colours of the Indian flag and people on the periphery holding hands) on the right hand corner of the screen actually moves in a clockwise manner.  All the presenters wear the Sahara Samay logo on their person (shirts or coats) unlike any other channel presenters – reinforcing the branding. There are two crawlers/tickers – one of which gives stock market quotes. Post stock market trading hours, this is replaced by general news. The crawlers and supers have evolved and have become more funky – especially watch the way “Iraq” is read. This is unlike Zee News which has one and Star News which has one in Hindi and the other in English. During the day, one of the scrolls shows the stock market prices. Foreign exchange rates are also shown in the right hand bottom corner. As the channel shows snapshots of the world view, they have images of the globe in the backdrop as the visuals are shown within a TV shaped structure.
Testimonial route Pace Anchors/Presenter
As far as the “faces” that the channel wants to project, the focus is on the core editorial team. The channel is promoting its four main presenters and anchors – Vinod Dua, Shireen, Sudhir Choudhary, Arup Ghosh. Most of the new faces don‘t seem very confident and the reporters haven‘t really learnt the art of smiling or using the appropriate body language for connecting with the audiences. There are rare instances though, when certain reporters rise above mediocrity – take for instance a particular news reporter indulging in shayaari (narrating verses of Urdu poets) during breaking news.
The reporters use proper Hindi without resorting to Bambaiya or other dialects and minimal English words. The recent promos are also seeking to build up the crime reporters who will present the crime show Chargesheet. Interesting move, as news channels seek to differentiate themselves from each other by trying out new programmes to attract viewers. Crime definitely has an audience in India – looking at the various crime publications which have survived on the news stands. Reportage/coverage Sahara stays with the story after it has been reported and revisits it even when newer events happen. A case in point is the MIG crash – that an association of crash victims‘ families is fighting a legal battle wasn‘t reported by channels after the last crash near Haryana. But Sahara Samay got viewpoints as a follow-up. However, Politics still rules as the channel is targeting the Hindi belt. Despite the presence of Samajwadi Party‘s Amar Singh on the Sahara Parivar Board, the channel has been giving a lot of coverage to the ruling party BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) as well as the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) Sangh Parivar (family). Yes, the usual favourites – “Ayodhya temple” and “Ganga pollution issues” – feature regularly. Geographic reach and penetration The focus is still on metros and smaller cities. However, there isn‘t any separate section as on other channels – City 60 (Star News) or Zee News‘ Metro Beat. The stories from rural areas (villages less than 20,000 population) are still few and far between them. There is no separate identity for metro coverage – Sahara missed out the Gudi Padwa celebrations in Mumbai which was shown on Star News and Zee News. South India coverage is pretty good with regular stories from Hyderabad (Chandrababu Naidu launching AP highway patrol force) and Bangalore. Sections Kuch Aur Khabre – about people and issues which are so small that they would get lost in anonymity. Teh Tak, Khel Samay and Cinema Samay are some other segments. “There is a conscious attempt not to have long boring shows where people discuss an issue,” says Ghosh, head of Sahara Samay Rashtriya. There is a separate capsule on business and the stock market prices roll over on the panel. The intent is clearly on presenting news rather than views at this point of time. Business Samay covered the recent problems faced by IT companies in getting work related visas for developed countries. Breaking news patterns Notable ones included the focus on law-enforcers indulging in law-breaking activities (the Sahara Samay team in Delhi caught hold of various policemen who didn‘t possess valid driving licences or drove vehicles which didn‘t have proper clearances related to emissions. Sahara broke news on at least eight days in the first fortnight, including Shanta Kumar‘s resignation from the Cabinet, the Gujarat controversy regarding ICICI Bank. Aishwarya Rai first released her statement on Salman to Sahara before giving it to the media. Her accident too, was a news break on Sahara Rashtriya. Says Ghosh, “We did not feel the need to talk about it (the news breaks) as it is a given thing for a news channel to break story. But we are entering overdrive now.” Signature tune, background scores The colour scheme of the supers have been changed, made more funky. Graphics being fine tuned and Khel Samay is using some heavy duty graphics. Ad break patterns Brands advertising on a channel reflects the target audience of that channel. It looks as if Sahara Samay Rashtriya has to do two things. Clearly, define the attributes of its target viewer and develop joint packages with the mass entertainment sister channel.
Highlights of first fortnight – the channel view: The very fact that the news team is battling a not-so-high perception about the parent group is the highlight. Veteran TV critic Amita Malik has pointed out that Sahara news‘ high points are it is not pretentious and anchors like Ghosh and Shireen always are a pleasure to watch. But consolidation would be the high point. After the first fortnight Sahara Rashtriya and the UP channel too have finetuned the look and their act. Recently they have also started using a video wall with the Gulf War coverage and it was used for sports coverage too. The idea is to gradually move the entire news on the video wall (which is a wall of screens behind the anchors that show different snap shots of the event being covered or discussed. Sahara and, probably, only NDTV has Crime reports have been received well all round. Aap Ki Aaawaj, People‘s Voice, is being done relentlessly to highlight people‘s concerns without editing them or trying to neutralise them. A three-part series on Delhi Police under Sahara Samay Abhiyan was received well by DP. The show was aimed at creating awareness amongst people and the police on ruiles and regulations and how mindless implementation of rules would not solve, for example, Delhi‘s chaotic traffic problems. As Ghosh summed up, “For a fortnight or so we were sure that it should be low key and the product should speak for itself, which has started happening now.” |
“Address the masses and offer class products. Media is more of a mission rather than a business.” These are the broad tenets guiding Sahara group‘s foray into broadcasting. Some of these elements have been incorporated into the news channel as well.
a closer look reveals most of the stories currently on air are generally taken from press meets, press conferences and events, which is also available to other news channels.
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
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
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.
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