As we begin the New Year, we spoke to industry leaders to reflect on the shifts that shaped 2025 and the forces expected to define 2026.
For Ashish Sehgal, CEO, Times TV Network and Chief Growth Officer, Times Media & Entertainment Network, the coming year signals a decisive phase for television news — one shaped by elections, economics, and geopolitics, both domestic and global.
He says, "The first half of 2026 TV news will be event-heavy, with high-stakes assembly elections and the scheduled SIR (Special Intensive Revision) in multiple states setting the political tone. News from eastern India will dominate, with West Bengal and Assam, alongside a volatile Bangladesh heading into elections amid heightened socio-political currents. Southern state elections in Tamil Nadu and Kerala will also carry national implications. The year will open with intense Budget coverage, followed by a historic IPO wave of over 190 listings shaping the financial narrative. Coverage in 2026 is likely to move beyond daily war updates to focus on India’s strategic balancing between the West and Russia amid ongoing tensions in Ukraine and the Middle East. Global trade agreement impacts and India’s defence diplomacy, along with the T20 Cricket World Cup at home, make it clear that geopolitics, nationalism, and economic impact will continue to be the biggest drivers of TV news in 2026."
(As told to Pritha Pahari)
