MUMBAI: To celebrate the 60 years of Independence, IBN 7 and CNN-IBN is re-starting the channels' flagship public opinion series State of the Nation. The opinion series will involve a two nation simultaneous opinion poll conducted by Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) in India and AC Nielsen in Pakistan.
Beginning on 12 august in CNN-IBN and IBN 7, the three half-an-hour episode series will have a final one-hour show on 15 August.
The bi-nation poll divided into four parts includes the Kashmir question, opinion about India, Pakistan and the World, the political debate -- UPA in India, General as dictator in Pakistan and people to people show, Indian and Pakistani citizens on each other.
The bi-nation opinion poll will be based on face-to-face interviews with about 2500 respondents each in India and Pakistan, broadly representing the regional and social diversity of each country.
CNN-IBN and IBN 7 editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, "Both India and Pakistan have come a long way since Independence in 1947, despite once being a single entity. While myriad socio-political and economic differences have arisen between the two countries in the past 60 years, our cultural and historical links are nonetheless still the same. Our attempt at such a poll is to understand these very differences and commonalities from both sides of the border and possibly work towards a more affable future."
IBN 7 managing editor Ashutosh said, "Don't you ever wonder what our Pakistani counterparts think about us? Do they hate us, like us or are indifferent to our existence? What about the Kashmiris? This particular edition of State of the Nation is one of its kind and will attempt to provide answers to these questions straight from the horse's mouth."
CNN-IBN and IBN national sales head Sanjay Dua said,"State of the Nation has always been extremely popular with our viewers. However, this particular version is in a league of its own as it involves the first-ever bi-nation opinion poll of its kind. This property speaks for itself and will prove a lucrative platform for those looking to advertise with us."
