MUMBAI: Starting 9 January, Star News will overhaul its morning news band by launching Pehli Khabar from 5 am to 8 am. With the aim of building on Star Savera, the channel has expanded its morning band.

With this variation, the channel will telecast its branded show Star Savera from 8 am to 11 am, which initially aired at 6:30 am to 9 am. Good Morning India show, which aired on Star News (NDTV was then providing content to Star News) had paved the way for the launch of breakfast news.

Star News has designed the wake-up news keeping in mind that its audience will receive fresh slice of news. Pehli Khabar will provide news from across the world and also provide a first glimpse of all the events and happenings that unfolded the night before. The new arrangement has been designed, at least in part, to broaden the morning news band scope with general news stories that appeal the audience.

Star Savera will look forward at the day ahead and delve into the news focussing on people, sports, crime, politics, civic life and the general buzz.

Star News CEO Uday Shankar says "We felt that starting a fresh broadcast at 6.00am was too late since most alive & health conscious urban Indians are up and about much before. Pehli Khabar is an attempt to connect them with their world just as their day begins. The shift in programming scheduling is in line with the evolving news consumption habits of viewers"

He further added that there has been a ‘need gap that existed’, which prompted the network to initiate in filling the space.