CNN-IBN INDIAN OF THE YEAR 2009 KICKS OFF
~India’s biggest and most credible awards are here again~

New Delhi, November 24, 2009: CNN-IBN Indian of the Year 2009 in partnership with Hindustan Times, the biggest and the most credible awards in Indian media are back, for the fourth time, adhering to the still unparalleled four-tier process. Conducted by CNN-IBN, India's Best English news channel these awards recognize, celebrate and honour Indians who have contributed to our country, and in turn have strengthened our society and contributed to building Brand India.

Instituted in the year 2006, ‘CNN-IBN Indian of the Year’ has been the benchmark for credibility and transparency in awards providing complete information about why the nominees were selected and how the winners were declared. This credible platform aspires to become the highest civilian honour outside those awarded by the Government. This is best illustrated by the fact that winners of the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year awards, who are great achievers in their own right, have really deemed it an honour to have been bestowed these prestigious awards. These awards have gone on to become the much awaited and the most anticipated awards of the year. The financial giant IFCI Limited is the presenting sponsor for this year.

The exquisitely crafted CNN-IBN Indian of the Year trophy contains more than 5000 crystals from Crystalized Swarovski Elements, who are the trophy partners since the inception of the awards.

Attended by the who’s who of the nation, every year the awards received unprecedented appreciation by eminent citizens and the people of India. Winners of the ‘CNN-IBN Indian of the Year 2008’ in various award categories were, Mr. Nitish Kumar in Politics, Mr. Abhinav Bindra in Sports, Mr. Aditya Puri in Business, Mr. Aamir Khan in Entertainment, Mr. G Madhavan Nair in Public Service, and Mr. A.R Rahman in the Global Indian categories, respectively. Mr. G. Madhavan Nair went on to win the coveted The CNN-IBN Indian of the Year 2008.

Speaking on the occasion of its announcement, Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-Chief, IBN18 Network said, “In past three years CNN-IBN Indian of the Year awards have evolved to a significant stature, recognizing the outstanding contributions of the Indians in various categories. This initiative is an attempt on our behalf to honour those who have shown promise and excellence in their respective fields. The immense success of the initiative last year, including participation by some of the country’s most distinguished citizens, has raised the bar for this initiative. We are looking forward to a great show this year as well”

About Network 18
Network18 [BSE: 532798,NSE: Network18] is one of India's leading full play media conglomerates with interests in television, print, internet, filmed entertainment, mobile content and allied businesses. Through its holding in Television Eighteen India Ltd (TV18) [BSE: 532299, NSE: TV-18], Network18 operates India’s leading business news television channels, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz. It also runs one of India’s largest Internet players - Web18, as well as one of India’s leading real time financial information and news terminals - Newswire18. TV18 has recently expanded into print with Infomedia18, a newly formed entity following the acquisition of Infomedia, India's leading player in the special interest publishing and printing operations space.TV18 has also announced a collaboration with Forbes media for the launch of a business magazine in India. Through its holding in ibn18 Broadcast Ltd (ibn18) [BSE: 532800,NSE: ibn18], Network18 operates in the general news and entertainment space with leading general news channels CNN-IBN and IBN7 and has launched IBN Lokmat, a Marathi news channel in partnership with the Lokmat group. ibn18 also operates a joint venture with Viacom, called Viacom18 which houses the MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon channels in India - as also Studio18, the Group’s filmed entertainment operation and has launched ‘Colors’, a Hindi general entertainment channel. Additionally, Network18 holds the Group’s online & on-air home shopping venture, Homeshop18 and its full spectrum events management venture, E18.

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