Mumbai : Network18 has announced the re-branding of its English general news channel CNN-IBN to CNN-News18. The channel will be unveiling a new name and logo, its revamped studio and a new look and feel to the news screen tonight at 8 PM. Refreshing the approach to news telling, CNN-News18 claims to make news more relevant to its viewers by bringing immersive journalism to the forefront. IBNLive.com, the digital destination of the channel, is also changing to News18.com.
Speaking on the occasion, Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman, Network18, said, “A decade back, CNN-IBN re-invented news by getting to its viewers the benefits of a reputed international news partner CNN, and eventually emerging as the most awarded English general news channel. We are now at a time when breaking news role is taken by social media and there is an oversupply of news sources because of which just breaking news isn’t enough. In this problem of plenty, quality suffers and consumers don’t know what to believe or trust in. Also the insights into an issue keep getting compromised for lack of time and resources”.
“Realizing this gap, we have decided to take the onus of breaking this clutter by focusing on quality of reporting, in-depth analysis and an all-round view of key issues. We are optimistic about bringing this change wherein we will keep the journalist and the consumer at the centre of our programming, which is the critical need of the hour.” he added.
Speaking about the re-branding and revamped content, Avinash Kaul, CEO – IBN News Network, said, “The refreshed identity of CNN-News18 aims to bring the value of immersive journalism to its viewers. Inspired by our new tagline – ‘On Your Side’, CNN-News18 will strive to make news more objective keeping the viewers at the centre of its content strategy. We will significantly ramp-up our digital presence to ensure that viewers are seamlessly able to interact and engage with our content.”
CNN-News18 is bringing to viewers new formats of programming and a panel of the country’s top commentators including Vir Sanghvi, Swapan Dasgupta, Ayaz Memon and Ajoy Bose. Prime Time 2.0, from 8PM to 11PM, will bring together an unmatched blend of on-ground reporting, opinions, debates and even a daily dose of humour. The weekend will see several new shows including Virtuosity – an exclusive show on the week’s key issues with Vir Sanghvi.
“CNN-News18’s programming will focus on leveraging our strength in reporting to offer in-depth on-ground coverage by deploying even more resources in news gathering and bring out multiple angles to each story. We will raise the quality of debates and in-studio discussions by engaging the nation’s foremost journalists & opinion makers. The channel will bring freshness to news television by developing new on-air talent and exploring diverse genres of programming. CNN-News18 will not just offer the latest national news, but also an Indian perspective to international developments. Our partnership with CNN will enable us to bring to you the best of CNN reporters, anchors and their best known shows. It will allow us to align our editorial strengths and upgrade workflows through exchange of best practices, technology and training to offer our viewers the best experience of news consumption in India” added Kaul.
