April 6, 2008
Lokmat & Network18 launch 'IBN-Lokmat' TV channel

Lokmat Group, Maharashtra's leading Newspaper group and Network18's Global Broadcast News (GBN), India's leading News Network have launched 'IBN-Lokmat' - a 24-hour Marathi news and current affairs channel. The legacy of these two renowned media powerhouses will give IBN-Lokmat a sense of immense credibility as well as access to a vast viewer base. Going on air from April 6, IBN-Lokmat will be a world-class news channel for the highly aware and conscious Maharashtrian. The channel is home to the finest new age multimedia journalists led by Nikhil Wagle as the Editor and Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-Chief, IBN Network.

Through its content, programming, state-of-the-art broadcast centre, extensive infrastructure and international production quality, IBN-Lokmat will embark on the principle of delivering news with the spirit of 'Chala, Jag Jinkuya!' (Literally meaning, 'Let's conquer the World). As credible journalism empowers people it gives them the inner confidence to take control of their surroundings and bring about change. IBN-Lokmat seeks to do just that and more. With reporters in every district of Maharashtra, and access to national and global networks, IBN Lokmat promises to become a bridge between Maharashtra and the wider world.

Commenting on the joint venture, Vijay Darda, Chairman, Lokmat Group said, "The joint-venture will blend together Lokmat's reach and understanding of the Marathi mind and GBN's world class standards to create a credible Marathi news channel. I am confident that this relationship will further expand and strengthen this endeavour that is IBN-Lokmat."

Sharing his views on the channel, Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-Chief, IBN Network said, "IBN-Lokmat will be tailored on the lines of CNN-IBN and IBN7 and hence the spotlight will continue to stay rooted on the journalistic spirit of 'Whatever it Takes'. With editorial integration between GBN and Lokmat, we hope to become the voice of Maharashtra and the channel's content will not only reflect the mood of the viewers, but will also successfully influence popular opinion".

"The channel will talk in contemporary Marathi, be inclusive in its approach, will not mince words when it comes to taking up an issue and shall be highly interactive and informative. Over a period of time, the channel will become the most dependable source of information in Marathi across Media. The channel will focus on Maharashtra and not only on Mumbai" Said, Nikhil Wagle, Editor, IBN-Lokmat.

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