Firstpost ·
CNN-News18 Unveils Refreshed Programming Line-up as Voice for a New India
CNN-News18, India's leading general English news channel, has unveiled a refreshed programming line-up designed for a new generation of news viewers
New Delhi, September 16, 2026: CNN-News18, India's leading general English news channel, has unveiled a refreshed programming line-up designed for a new generation of news viewers. Further strengthening its position as the "Voice for a New India", the refreshed offering reflects the aspirations of a rapidly evolving India and the changing expectations of audiences seeking credible, insightful and relevant journalism.
At a time when news is available from countless sources, audiences are looking for more than just updates. They want journalism that explains the bigger picture, separates fact from noise, and helps them make sense of the stories shaping their lives. Responding to this shift, CNN-News18 has refreshed its programming to bring together original reporting, sharp analysis, expert voices, and meaningful conversations across national, regional, global, and health news, delivering journalism that is credible, relevant, and built for a New India. Designed to stay with viewers through every stage of the news cycle, the refreshed editorial offering moves seamlessly from agenda-setting stories, exclusive reporting and compelling explainers in the afternoon to deeper analysis, incisive debates and conversations with key newsmakers in the evening.
The line-up begins with Raw Report, a new weekday programme anchored by senior journalist Shawan Sen, airing at 12 PM. Strengthening the daytime offering, Breaking Frontline with Shivani Gupta at 1 PM, Simply South with Nabila Jamal and Harish Upadhya at 1:30 PM, Newsroom Unfiltered with Griha Atul at 3 pm and News Periscope 360° View with Ayushman Jamwal at 4 PM deliver a powerful blend of agenda-setting journalism, exclusive reporting, regional perspectives, immersive explainers and breaking news, keeping viewers informed and ahead of the day's biggest developments.
The refreshed evening line-up brings together CNN-News18's strongest editorial voices, offering viewers a comprehensive mix of debates, in-depth reporting and sharp analysis. The 5 PM Brief with Poonam Burde, Plain Speak at 5:55 PM with Shivani Gupta, Brass Tacks at 6:55 PM with Nabila Jamal, The Right Stand at 7:55 PM with Anand Narasimhan, The Hard Facts at 8:55 PM with Rahul Shivshankar, Raw Report at 9:58 PM with Shawan Sen, and Vantage at 10:30 PM with Hem Kaur Saroya together provide fact-driven journalism and diverse perspectives on the stories shaping India and the world.
The refreshed offering also strengthens CNN-News18's weekend programming with two additional shows - The Global Radar, hosted by Griha Atul, airing at 9:30 AM on Saturdays and 5:30 PM on Sundays, providing in-depth insights into the geopolitical developments shaping the world, and Health Matters, hosted by Himani Chandna at 12:30 PM on Saturdays and 1:30 PM on Sundays, bringing viewers credible, expert-led coverage of healthcare and everyday wellness.
Speaking on the refreshed programming, Rahul Shivshankar, Editorial Affairs Director, CNN-News18, said, "The biggest shift in news today isn't just the speed of information, it's the changing expectations of the audience. Viewers want journalism that is original, transparent and rooted in facts. They expect us not only to report what happened, but to explain why it matters and how it impacts their lives. Every element of this refreshed line-up has been designed around those expectations. With Voice for a New India, CNN-News18 remains committed to asking the right questions, pursuing the facts with rigour and delivering journalism our viewers can trust every single day."
Smriti Mehra, CEO – English and Business News, Network18, said: “At CNN-News18, we have always evolved with our audience. As viewing habits change and expectations continue to rise, it is our responsibility, as India’s leading English news channel, to stay ahead of this shift. With this refreshed line-up, we are bringing together some of the most trusted and distinctive voices in news across a carefully curated slate of shows. From Shawan Sen’s Raw Report and Nabila Jamal’s Brass Tacks to Anand Narasimhan’s The Right Stand and Rahul Shivshankar’s The Hard Facts in prime time, we are strengthening our presence across original reporting, immersive explainers, debates and in-depth analysis. True to our positioning as the ‘Voice for a New India’, this is a line-up built around strong editorial identities, trusted anchors and journalism that informs, engages and stays relevant to an evolving India.”
Tune in to CNN-News18 on linear TV, CTV, and YouTube to catch the new line-up for a new India.