News channels set the game for Budget 2007

News channels are all set to roll out programming for Budget 2007. From debates on what the last year’s budget promised and delivered, to opinions from the common man – television this month will have it all.

All the channels and properties under the CNBC universe will create and deliver programming around the theme of the Budget. The focus of the TV-18 network will be on policy implications emanating from the finance ministry as well as the various facets of the Indian economy.

Budget programming on CNBC TV 18 kicked off the event called Managing Growth, where policy makers and business leaders discussed the Indian growth story and the prospect of inclusive growth in an engaging debate in Delhi. Throughout February, TV-18 will present a series of ‘Budget Expectation’ events that focus on the Indian economy from the crucial viewpoints of Manufacturing, Youth and Growth. Subsequently, the Pre Budget programming on CNBC-TV18 will see a series of on-air debates on an array of relevant economic issues like the re-emergence of Indian agriculture, rise of Indian MNCs, SMEs, Infrastructure, job growth & human resources, personal finance, capital markets and others.

A special ‘Young India’ set of programmes will focus on the youth community through shows such as campus debates and an event that shall focus on B-School students. The Nation’s Voice will be a special segment taking stock of everything the previous budget promised, and weigh it against how much it really delivered.

Commenting on the budget programming on CNBC Universe, a spokesperson of the channel said, “CNBC-TV18 has been synonymous with the budget programming and analysis since inception. The CNBC Universe which now encompasses CNBC TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNBC Global Network, moneycontrol.com, commoditiescontrol.com, poweryourtrade.com, compareindia.com, easymf.com, indiaearnings.com, tech2.com, TV18 2622, CNBC TV18 bestsellers under its umbrella looks forward to give its viewers and users across the board and comprehensive coverage of the budget expectations, announcement and analyses.”

NDTV has planned their programming for the budget, between all three of their channels through two levels -- pre-budget and post-budget. NDTV Profit will continue reporting on business news and trends, and in the run-up, the channel will present a series of special analytical shows titled, ‘If I were the FM’, ‘Budget Insights’, ‘Taxing Times’, ‘We the SMEs’ and ‘The Lobby’.

NDTV 24X7 will bring a set of special programmes on the day of the Budget. Starting with Prannoy Roy’s ‘Budget Battleground’ and Vikram Chandra’s ‘Tax Guru’, a host of other programmes like ‘The Spend Factor’ and ‘Budget 2007 Hopes and Fears’, ‘Politics of Budget’, “The Budget and You”, ‘Budget Battleground - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ will also be aired. Further, a special show called ‘Budget 2007’ will be anchored by Roy, and have guests including Ruchir Sharma, MD of Morgan Stanley, TN Ninan, Editor and Publisher of Business Standard and students from the Indian Institute of Management on the show.

“India is witnessing phenomenal economic growth. And as a document that lays down the overall policy direction and thrust for the country's growth, the Union Budget is a document which affects all of us. Through our special programmes we aim to simplify the underlying complexities of the Budget for our viewers and analyze whether the economy is headed in the right direction,” said Shivnath Thukral, Managing Editor, NDTV Profit.

Sonia Singh, Managing Editor of NDTV 24X7 said, “We are all aware of the word “Budget” and what it stands for, but some of us are still unaware of the intricacies involved. We have made an earnest attempt to bring our viewers an easily understandable version of this complex economic document with programmes involving discussions with IIM students, on how exactly the Budget will affect us and on the analysis done while drafting the Budget.”

“The Budget impacts every one, from the man on the street to the business tycoon. We have incorporated the special audience-based interactive show in our Hindi channel to bring the voice of the common man to the forefront,” added Dibang, the Managing Editor of NDTV India.

Star News will roll out implications of Budget 2006-07 for the common man. Under the umbrella brand of ‘STAR Budget 2007’ which was launched on January 27th, the specials will continue to air until February 28th and will conclude with the live telecast of the Union Budget 2006-07.

Some of the shows include ‘Fund Ka Funda Aapke Shahar Mein’ where STAR News’ financial experts will traverse the length and breadth of the country to answer people’s queries on investments and offer financial advice. This series will air between February 12th and 25th and feature in segments throughout the day. ‘Kyunki Yeh Meri Jeb Hai’ will be a programme where the common man will get a platform to voice their concerns, expectations and suggestions to the Finance Minister and the Rail Minister on the Budget.

“STAR Budget 2007 presented by STAR News will be your guide through the twists and turns of a busy Budget season, so that the mystery is removed and facts made plain, because the people of this country deserve to know,” said an official from Star Network.

The action at Times Now includes The Budget Debates, where the first will be Chidambaram’s Challenges. It will broadly look at the Finance Minister’s key challenges. Joining the debate with the Times Now Editor-in Chief Arnab Goswami will be Swaminathan Aiyer and Omkar Goswami. Among the themes discussed are the challenges in controlling inflation while managing the growth curve and the impact of future government expenses like the pay commission on Chidambaram's pre budget fiscal balancing.

In India and the World, the basic questions of what the finance minister needs to do to allow Indian companies to go global, and if enough is being done to encourage smaller groups and corporates, and whether India should officially reject foreign aid to a change in mindset.

Also, various other subjects will be explored, like the Budget and the Markets, as well as about the Budget and Politics. Sunil Lulla, CEO of Times NOW said, “This year we have a robust programming lined up for the budget. Budget-o-nomics will aim at presenting first hand credible news and analysis of budget to the viewers of Times Now. With leading economists like Swaminathan Aiyer and Omkar Goswami joining in, viewers will get the complete picture of the budget as it is on the channel.”

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