New Delhi, 05th Jan 2010: In celebration of 60 years of Indian Republic, IBN7 - India’s Channel of Impact along with Bajaj Allianz - India's leading private insurance company, present ‘IBN7 Bajaj Allianz Super Idols’ - an initiative in partnership with Dainik Bhaskar that will recognize, celebrate and honour those achievers with disabilities who have soared beyond conventional barriers to realise their chosen dreams.

IBN7 in its continuing endeavor to present positive journalism will showcase 20 truly inspiring individuals, who have overcome debilitating physical challenges through super human efforts to achieve acceptance and success.

The ‘IBN7 Bajaj Allianz Super Idols’ is a first of its kind initiative by any media organization in the country to pay tribute to the triumph of the human spirit over physical challenges and constraints, in achieving greatness.

These are life transforming stories of people with disabilities who never bowed down to their circumstances or gave up hope but walked on fighting, against all odds, with sheer grit and will power as their weapons, and eventually emerging victorious.

‘IBN7 Bajaj Allianz Super Idols’ are people who lead and inspire by example and make us better human beings, as we learn to view life in an appreciative paradigm and awaken the spirit of self belief in us.

The IBN7 editorial team, through its extensive reporter network in the country, has identified 18 ‘Super Idols’ whose work can be classified under one of the following eight categories: Sports; Business and Employment; Rehabilitation; Entertainment; Education; National Service; Idol Makers (in Disabled and Not Disabled category) and Lifetime Achievement. Thus, the awards will not just honour the differently abled achievers, but will also recognize and laud the efforts of those individuals who have been working with the differently abled to ensure equal rights and opportunities for them as well as enable their integration into the mainstream.

These ‘IBN7 Bajaj Allianz Super Idols’ will be honoured by IBN7 in an awards ceremony in Mumbai on January 19, 2010.

IBN7 will showcase the stories of these Idols under various categories in special ½ hr shows that will be telecast every Sunday 10:00 PM, from 3rd Jan – 24th Jan, 2010. Also, IBN7 will conduct a panel discussion along with different NGOs on the facilities available for the differently abled, the hurdles, empowering the disabled, their contribution to the country etc on 23rd January, Saturday@ 8 PM. The grand finale will be telecast on 26th January, Tuesday@ 7:30 PM.

Speaking on the initiative, Ashutosh, Managing Editor, IBN7 said, “The significant contributions of the differently abled to our society and our nation need to be acknowledged and applauded. Through this initiative, IBN7 aims to recognize these inspirational brave hearts who have never let their disability become their inability to give their best. This initiative also appreciates the contributions of those selfless individuals who have fought for the rights of their differently abled brethren and proved to be the wind beneath their wings.”

Speaking on the occasion, Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-chief, IBN18 said, “IBN7 Bajaj Allianz Super Idols’ is an initiative that will acknowledge and felicitate the individuals who have excelled in their career by overcoming the challenges of their lives. We at IBN18 Network salute the spirit and courage shown by these individuals and hope to bring forth more such talents by providing them a unique platform like Super Idols that will help them to set an example for others to follow.”

These Super Idols have proved to the world by their performance in various fields that one doesn’t need sight to have a vision, one doesn’t need a voice to express, and one doesn’t need to have legs to stand up against all odds and that their disability is not their inability to perform any task. So join us as we applaud these super achievers, the new Super Idols of India.

Visit www.ibn7superidols.com to know more.

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 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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For further information contact:
Ashutosh Srivastava/ Adip Puri
Hanmer MS& L
+91-9873968211/ 9899100245