Star News
Reality Check: Two-tone dupattas, squiggly ties, gaudy sets, some big-name hosts, but mostly youthful correspondents and a dog-bites-man approach to news.
On-Screen Elements: International and domestic headlines in English and Hindi.
Personality: Aqua meets Balaji Telefilms.
Aaj Tak
Reality Check: Correspondents allowed to sweat; anchors given to quips and comments. Interviews in other languages retained with Hindi sub-titles. The merciless gaze promised in the retro ads, though, is not to
Sahara Samay
Reality Check: It’s Amarji and Lalooji. And only shudh Hindi please! Despite the formality, anchors are friendly and stories well-mounted, going beyond headlines, albeit with a pronounced northern bias.
On-Screen Elements: Domestic and international headlines in Hindi, stock quotations, story summaries.
Personality: Cowbelt in a suit.
ZEE News
Reality Check: The backdrop is lit up with TV screens playing snatches of other Zee channels. News presented competently, though the approach is more magazine than news flash.
On-Screen Elements: Date, day, time, breaking news, headlines in English and Hindi.
Personality: In a suddenly crowded market place, not clear yet.
Headlines Today
Reality Check: The anchors seem fresh off the plane. The snappy promos and elevator music create the ambience of an airport lounge. But this is well-paced, quick news for the wo/man on the run.
On-Screen Elements: Date, time, international/domestic/business headlines, cricket scores.
Personality: The global desi.
NDTV 24×7
Reality Check: Impressively swanky. The familiar faces return; larger than before. The emphasis is on clarity, variety and reach in news coverage.
On-Screen Elements: Date, time, city temperatures, international and domestic headlines.
Personality: The grown-up channel.
NDTV India
Reality Check: Subdued colours, subdued tone. The approach is avowedly professional, with a thrust on special stories.
On-Screen Elements: Date, time, city temperature, international and domestic headlines.
Personality: We’re serious.