Mumbai, 19th December, 2012: HISTORY TV18 presents a special lineup of fascinating shows exploring the significance of the date 21st December 2012 and the Doomsday prophecies linked to it. The shows present varied predictions across different eras & cultures from the Mayan Calander to Nostradamus? theories, and examine these from a scientific, objective perspective.

Ancient Aliens: The Mayan?s most distinguished Long Count Calendar will come to an end on December 21, 2012. How is it significant to our existence? There are various prophesies related to the same and many scholars believe that it will usher in the return of Bolon Yokte--a mysterious god associated with creation and war, then other scholars deem that it will bring about a series of catastrophic events that may threaten the very existence of mankind. If these doomsday prophecies prove to be true, will it mean the end of the world as we know it? Or could it reveal some profound truth about the origins of the human race?

Nostradamus: Nostradamus, a prophet from 16th century, is famous for having predicted the French Revolution, Adolph Hitler, 9/11 atrocity to name a few. His prophecies have been a topic of debate for centuries. Rightly so, his predictions have stood the test of time. And with December 21 being touted as the end of the world, there is a lot of interest whether the apocalypse will occur soon as he defined. Is there any evidence throughout history that 2012 will be a year of unprecedented, deadly upheaval? This special delves into petrifying prophecies from Nostradamus and others.

Earth Under Water: Every day we wake up to science and information about temperature rise, diminishing level of artic ice and subsequent increase in the sea level. Eminent climatologists think another Great Flood is inevitable if current carbon-di-oxide emissions continue. Based on research by NASA astro-biologist and paleontologist Professor Peter Ward and a group of respected American climatologists, this spellbinding documentary employs scientific evidences from the past and present to prepare a m?lange of archive footage, location photography and CGI to spell out in graphic detail the predicted Earth?s apocalyptic future that we have been avoiding.

Whether you are a believer of science or have a passion for fictions, Doomsday?s prophecies cannot escape one?s awareness. Get ready to know about the mysterious Mayans to the relatively new Nostradamus?s warning and modern age NASA studies for a common prediction ? the end of the world.

Watch the truth unfold about Doomsday as HISTORY TV18 presents a special feature premiering on 19TH December, 2012 at 7:00 pm

MUMBAI: Reinstating its commitment towards the promotion of India?s distinct and abounding heritage, HISTORY TV18 has partnered once again with Central Board of Secondary Education to conduct the Heritage India Quiz 2012.

The Heritage Quiz 2012 involved more than 2500 students from various schools affiliated to the CBSE board. The quiz included an exhaustive selection process which involved a preliminary written exam followed by grueling rounds of quizzing at the regional level, which finally culminated in short-listing of 16 teams for the National semi-final rounds. Winners from the four semi-finals ultimately fought it out in the Grand finale.

Adrian D?Costa from HISTORY TV18 and Mr. Vineet Joshi Chairman CBSE were present at the Grand Finale to propagate the cause of spreading awareness and lessons about India?s tradition amongst school students.

HISTORY TV18 associated with CBSE to implement the Heritage Quiz 2012, with the purpose of enriching students? knowledge about our ?Heritage?, ?Culture? and distinct ?History?. Globally, the History channel is known for its effective outreach programme dedicated towards the restoration, conservation and knowledge enrichment of historic legacies. Taking forward the channel?s core ethos in India, soon after its launch, the channel spearheaded several outreach programmes to promote education and conservation of Indian monuments and heritage.

Commenting on HISTORY TV18?s partnership with CBSE, Ajay Chacko, President, A+E Networks | TV 18 added, ?History TV18 is proud to partner with CBSE in taking further this initiative for the second year. I?m happy that the Heritage quiz has been very well received and it enhances our determination to carry on with this initiative. We hope that we can be of value in making our children realize the value of our rich past and India?s heritage.?

Reiterating the importance of Heritage Education, Shri Vineet Joshi, Chairman CBSE, said ?Heritage Education is an attempt to understand all that makes the identity of Indian civilization. Heritage Education is a link program to explore the heritage of multiple subjects simultaneously taught in schools in an innovative and creative manner. Heritage Education is on one hand interpreting the past for the use of the future, and recognizing contemporary traditions that affect the present and will influence the future. This initiative has received tremendous impetus from the experience and reach of our association with the HISTORY TV18 Channel.?

This is the 12th year of this quiz, being conducted in multiple phases (City Chapter, Regional Chapter, National Semi Finals and National Finals). 753 Schools from 8 regions participated in the quiz which was held in 20 schools.

MUMBAI: HISTORY TV18 pays homage to the ?Father of the Indian constitution? on his 56th death anniversary, with a special series immortalizing the life and paramount triumph of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. The First Law Minister of India and one of the main architects of our Constitution, Dr. Ambedkar is one of the most admired youth icons even today, receiving an overwhelming majority votes in the ?Greatest Indian?; the much appreciated quest spearheaded by HISTORY TV18 and CNN IBN earlier this year.

Widely recognized for his revolutionary contribution towards the framing of the Indian Constitution, Dr. Ambedkar also propagated commandingly social equality, citizens? rights, and democratic political system. A constant source of inspiration to the people of India, Dr. Ambedkar?s ideology and actions continue to have relevance as the incongruity in social and economic standards of life persist even today especially amongst the deprived masses.

With this special series, HISTORY TV18 chronicles the life and struggle of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar ?a documentary that traces fine points of his ascend to become one of the greatest leaders, philosophers and jurists, India ever produced.

Watch the life of this great visionary premiering on Thursday, 6th December at 9 pm only on HISTORY TV18.

MUMBAI: HISTORY TV18 and CNN IBN‘s hunt for The Greatest Indian which started in April, 2012 created history on Independence Day this year when an impressive 20 Million viewers across the country tuned into the show‘s grand finale on 15th August, 2012, garnering a commendable 4.83 NGRPs across all channels, thereby making it one of the most participated and highly watched show in recent times. The unprecedented reach and viewership are a first for an initiative led by a factual entertainment or English news channel.

The three month campaign finally culminated with the announcement of Dr. B R Ambedkar as The Greatest Indian post independence. In another first, 13 channels across Network18, Viacom18 & E TV (Colors, MTV, ETV, IBN7, IBN Lokmat, CNBC TV18, CNBC AWAAZ, ETV Urdu, ETV Uttar Pradesh, ETV Rajasthan, ETV Bihar and ETV Madhya Pradesh.) telecast the glittering and high octane excitement grand finale.

The Greatest Indian amassed tremendous buzz over the three month period with over 2 crore votes coming through missed calls and online.The campaign also sustained a healthy engagement on Social Media platforms reaching over 20 lac Facebook users through viral content. A large number of interesting comparisons and discussions followed on Twitter with hashtags related to the initiative trending consistently and reaching over 2 lac users daily.

The grand finale, featuring some of the best known names, was attended by eminent personalities like Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Shabana Azmi and Harsha Bhogle amongst the others. The show which was replete with interesting anecdotes and incidents related to the ‘Greats‘, was also an occasion of celebration, with Kailash Kher mesmerising audiences with this performance.

The initiative is based on the path-breaking series featured on BBC called ‘The Greatest Briton‘. Launched in 2002 in the UK, the initiative reached out to millions of viewers and broke significant viewership records there. An astounding 21 countries have successfully
adopted this format since then including Germany (Konrad Adenauer-Greatest German), South Africa (Nelson Mandela ? Greatest South African) and the US (Ronald Reagan ? Greatest American).

(Source: TAM, Market All India, TG CS 4+, 15th August, 24 Hrs & TG CS AB 15+, week 33‘12, 24 Hrs, (NGRPs 30 min)

MUMBAI: History TV18 and CNN IBN have announced the names of 50 nominees for the channels? local initiative ?The Greatest Indian?. The list, being released for a nationwide poll, contains iconic Indians like Jawaharalal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar. The names have had the maximum impact on the nation since independence.

The list focusses on the greatest Indians who have shaped the nation in the last 64 years. Of 50 nominees, 15 have received the Bharat Ratna, 13 have played a role in the freedom struggle while 6 are women. Among the 31 super achievers, Pt. Ravi Shankar (92), M S Swaminathan (87) and A B Vajpayee (88) are the senior most, while Sachin Tendulkar (39) is the youngest.

The initiative is based on the series featured on BBC called ?The Greatest Briton?, and is set to trigger a national debate on who is the Greatest Indian after Mahatma Gandhi. Launched in 2002 in the UK, the initiative reached out to millions of viewers and broke significant viewership records there. An astounding 21 countries have successfully adopted this format since then, and it now promises to create history here in India too.

IBN18 Network editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, ?We believe that this is a one-of-a-kind initiative in the life of a nation that should both excite and educate. I?m sure this series will trigger an enthusiastic debate in homes, offices & public places around the country. Just from the jury discussions and internal debates in the news room, I?ve got a real sense of how passionately people feel about the initiative. We hope that the series will continue to provoke debate and encourage people to cast their vote for the Greatest Indian.?

A+E Networks TV18 president Ajay Chacko said, ?History TV18?s attempt has been to create interest across generations in the subject in an informal and entertaining way. This partnership with CNN IBN enables HISTORY TV18 to bring forth the inspiring figures over the years, after the Mahatma, who have had the maximum impact on the country?s present and future. While the jury and nationwide polls will ultimately lead to the search for that one individual whose contribution to India has been overwhelmingly acknowledged as the most enduring, it also gives us Indians a chance to be aware of the contributions of many other great individuals from diverse fields.?

CNN-IBN at Network18 CEO Dilip Venkatraman said, ?At CNN IBN, we have always believed in celebrating India with its unmatched spirit- its will to survive, succeed and thrive against all odds. What better way to be a part of this path-breaking initiative to find out who the Greatest Indian is. An initiative such as this is all the more relevant today, with challenges our country faces, as it would be an interesting reflection of the mood of the nation.?

BBC Worldwide Productions India GM, creative head Myleeta Aga said, ?BBC Worldwide is thrilled to be partnering with History TV18 to bring this format to the Indian audience. We have no doubt that the interest and debate around identifying the ?greatest Indian since Independence?will make the series a huge success in India as well."

The jury consists of a panel of 28 epeople like UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani; The Indian Express Group Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta and author and Member, Lok Sabha- Shashi Tharoor and jurist Harish Salve among others.

The entire process is being audited by Grant Thornton. Along with the nationwide poll, equal weightage will be given to the jury?s selection as well as a separate market research poll conducted by The Nielsen Company. This process will be followed in both phases of the initiative, the first being to arrive at a shortlist of the top 10 ?Greats? and the second, the selection of the ?Greatest Indian?. The shortlist of top 10 ?Greats? is slated to be revealed on 1st July after which the second round of voting begins.

The initiative will culminate with the announcement of the Greatest Indian in a glittering ceremony to be telecast around Independence Day this year.

As part of the nationwide poll, viewers can cast they?re vote by visiting the website TheGreatestIndian.in or giving a missed call to a unique number assigned to their nominee of choice.

These are the 50 nominees for the Greatest Indian