CNBC-TV18's innovative shows for Budget 2006

Budget 2006 Line-Up for the Consumer from Awaaz
Awaaz will ask the all important question: "Is Budget 2006 a Consumer
Budget?"
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CNBC-TV18, India's leading business medium, has lined up an interesting, informative and innovative budget line up for the Union Budget 2006. The current year's theme will be centered on the great Indian dream and will address the question: *Will Budget 2006 make or break the Indian dream?*
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India's First Dedicated Consumer Channel – Awaaz has lined up a first-ever budget-programming which questions the relevance of the budget for the Indian consumer for the upcoming budget this February 2006. Awaaz will make a revelatory trip criss-crossing the country and voicing the opinions of Indian consumers on their expectations of Budget 2006. Budget expectations and its impact has unfolded through a series of special programmes queued up on Awaaz beginning February 10, 2006.

*Pre budget programming*

CNBC-TV18, the acknowledged leader and trendsetter, has kick started its budget programming with 3 on-ground events in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore – with industry leaders defining their expectations from this year's Union Budget 2006. Telecast on the channel as a half hour show each, the wish list of the industry leaders, the likely Budget policy declarations and their possible ramifications will be some of the highlights which will be aired on channel.

Besides this the channel will telecast the budget demands of various sectors on various segments as part of *Budget Q&A and Bulletins*.

As part of the pre budget programming, CNBC-TV18 will also travel to the heartland of India feeling the pulse of India and understanding their budget aspirations. *Budget Caravan *will have the* * CNBC-TV18 team will travel across the country from February 15 - 25, 2006, stopping at metros, mini metros, small towns, etc. to hold special one-on-ones and small group discussions with the local community. The expectations of individuals and the nation will be voiced on the channel in the form of three to four minute segments which will be aired in key Bulletins on the channel.

To add to this CNBC-TV18 will also be conducting polls for the common
man *(Common Man poll)* and the CEO *(CEO poll)* which will highlight the budget aspirations of the day to day life and of India Inc.

Another new segment to the run up to the budget will be *"What the World Thinks" *where* *global leaders will express their opinions on what the budget has in store for them.

*Railway budget* will be covered live and exclusive on the channel with
exhaustive analysis of the implications and final predications from experts
on what lies ahead.

Budget eve will also have a one hour special on the *Economic Survey* giving an intelligent and comprehensive overview of the booming Indian economy.

This year, *Awaaz Budget programming* will capture the Dreams, Expectations and Aspirations of the Indian consumer and will also analyze and provide them with timely information in a simplistic language which will finally gauge how much the long awaited budget will impact their lives.

The Awaaz Budget will more specifically focus on innovative programme
concepts which have been translated into programmes segregated into three categories:

1. *Budget Yatra*
2. *Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani*
3. *Budget Panchayat*

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*1. **BUDGET YATRA*

The Awaaz team will travel across the country from February 15 - 25, 2006, stopping at metros, mini metros, small towns, etc. to hold special
one-on-ones and small group discussions with the local community in the
country. The expectations of individuals and the nation will be voiced on
the channel in the form of three to four minute segments which will be aired
in key Bulletins like 'Aaj ka Karobaar' and 'Awaaz Samachar'.

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*2. GHAR GHAR KI KAHANI*

As India prepares for the Budget, Awaaz will visit Indian families from 12
different cities to analyze their expectations and understand how the budget is likely to affect them. Post the budget verdict, the Awaaz team will revisit these families to gauge their reactions to the verdict. Starting
10th February, this 2-3 minute special will air one story everyday running
across the channel during the entire budget predicament.

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*3. BUDGET PANCHAYAT*

Budget Panchayat will be a series of 4 half hour specials on AWAAZ which will feature leading experts, analysts and industry leaders who will provide both macro as well as the Micro view of what to expect from the budget and the implications of the budget on various aspects of every Indians life, like Tax, Personal Finance, Stocks & Shares and Macro Economic issues.

Post the declaration of the budget, six focused one hour on-air
*Panchayats*will discuss the policy implications of the budget and the
way forward while focusing on the Share Market, Personal Finance, Tax, Sasta Mehenga (Housewives), Traders and Overall budget and the Impact of Macro economic issues on consumers.

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To add spice to the innovative budget programming, Awaaz will also
present *'Extreme Budget'* - a spoof on the budget desires and wishes of the corporate bigwigs from February 16, 2006, played 8 times a day in 3 different versions. Shot in a typical newsroom environment, *Extreme Budget* will provide viewers a hilarious outlook on budget expectations.

Special segments on Awaaz Samachar will air the budget expectations of the common man (Common Man Poll) and India Inc (CEO Poll) conducted by Synovate.

Other interesting pre-budget specials lined up on Awaaz are:
- *Mera Budget*, a 30 second segment playing throughout the day on
Awaaz, will speak to personalities like Rahul Bajaj, Priyanka Chopra as
well as the common man on the street, revealing their expectations of the
budget.

- *Economic Survey, *a 30 minute show on the eve of the Budget will
analyze each sector extensively and present a list of expectations and
recommendations for each sector with a special focus on the wish list of
the consumer from these sectors.

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- *Factoids on The Budget, *a 30 second graphic segment will play
throughout the day on Awaaz, gauging the expectations from the budget in
2006.**

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- *THE SME Focus - *Awaaz will also run two pre-Budget half hour
discussions on the SME expectations and concerns and their ability to
create a significant impact on the economic development of the country. **

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- *The Railway Budget *will be a 30 minute Panchayat* *during prime
time on the Railway Budget, the policy implications and the reactions of
the various related parties.

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*Budget Day Programming*

Live panel discussions will be the order of the day with panel discussion
from the CNBC-TV18 studio, FICCI and CII. The channel will telecast the LIVE uninterrupted coverage of the FM's Budget speech with analysis from experts and detailing of the implications. Budget Analysis and Wrap Ups will also follow the exclusive interview with the FM on the Budget day.

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The *India** Business hour Budget Special*- will have an entire show
dedicated to the budget wherein CEOs from across industries, bureaucrats and politicians will air their reactions to the Union Budget 2006.

On* Budget Day, *Awaaz will air LIVE uninterrupted coverage of the Finance Minister's Speech simultaneously translated to Hindi. An analysis with details on the implications and Impact on various constituencies throughout the day will also feature through -

• Regular news bulletins

• Awaaz Samachar

• Segments with consumer and CEOs

• Discussions with political leaders

• Tax impact analysis with tax experts

• Consumer speak

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*Post Budget Programming*

Back to the on ground events, CNBC-TV18 will discuss tax related aspects and recommendations presented in the finance bill post the budget,
simultaneously in three cities – Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore. These will attempt to touch base with reality and get a feel of the impact the budget has made to the common man.

To add this element, CNBC-TV18 will speak with the youth in an on ground and highly successful initiative conceptualised last year in association with MTV. Called *CNBC-TV18 and MTV budget fundas*, the initiative will touch base with the youth of the country and how it has affected their lives.

CNBC-TV18's unparalleled budget programming for the Union Budget 2006 will be led by India's best known business anchors, with analysis by India's most respected economic experts. Views & reactions from India's most powerful industry captains, in-depth discussions with India's best known finance faces and high profile forums with India's most knowledgeable, will complete CNBC-TV18's budget programming, giving its viewers an all round perspective of the Union Budget 2006.

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Post the Budget, *Talking Tax *– two Half hour shows on March 1, 06, will decipher what the budget means for the consumer, featuring tax experts who will discuss the implications of the direct and indirect tax recommendations of Budget 2006 in a simple and easy to understand language.

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