Hindi news broadcaster Aaj Tak has introduced Vertical TV, a first-of-its-kind technology platform designed to transform how live television news is produced and consumed on mobile devices. The initiative makes Aaj Tak the first broadcaster in India to deploy an AI-powered, real-time adaptive vertical television experience at scale.

According to an Aaj Tak announcement, the new platform goes beyond simply reformatting content for smartphones. It uses artificial intelligence and advanced broadcast technology to dynamically adapt live television feeds into a vertical format, creating a viewing experience designed specifically for mobile audiences.

At the core of Vertical TV is a proprietary technology stack built around real-time adaptive vertical reframing, pixel reconfiguration, immersive AI and intelligent visual orchestration. The system continuously analyses every frame of a live broadcast and automatically restructures it for vertical viewing as events unfold.

The platform is powered by advanced auto-reframing technology developed using more than five years of viewer behaviour, content consumption and screen engagement data. This enables the system to identify the most important elements within a live broadcast—whether it is an anchor, field reporter, graphic, visual cue or breaking news update—and automatically adjust the frame in real time to keep the focus on key information.

One of the standout features of the technology is its intelligent visual composition engine, which allows multiple content layers to be displayed effectively within a single vertical screen. Through dynamic layouts and pixel-level optimisation, live television elements are reorganised into a mobile-native format while retaining editorial context, graphics and visual clarity.

The system also employs adaptive auto-reframing and pixel reconfiguration to convert broadcasts originally designed for traditional horizontal television screens into immersive vertical experiences. According to the broadcaster, the technology achieves this without compromising storytelling, data visualisation, graphics or overall production quality.

The result is a more information-rich viewing environment that maximises smartphone screen space and aligns with evolving mobile consumption habits. The experience has been designed around principles of human comfort-led interface design, taking cues from natural eye movement and the way users typically hold and navigate content on smartphones.

Vertical TV is currently available through the Aaj Tak app and the channel’s YouTube platform, reflecting the growing importance of mobile devices as the primary source of news consumption for many audiences.

Commenting on the launch, Kalli Purie, Vice Chairperson and Executive Editor-in-Chief of the India Today Group, said the project was the outcome of years of innovation and experimentation focused on understanding how audiences engage with news on mobile devices.

“Every major shift in media consumption demands a corresponding shift in technology. Vertical TV is the result of years of innovation, experimentation and learning around how audiences engage with news on mobile devices. By combining AI-driven reframing and consumer behaviour insight, we have created another future-ready format for Aaj Tak,” she said.

With the launch of Vertical TV, Aaj Tak is positioning itself at the forefront of mobile-first news broadcasting, showcasing how artificial intelligence, broadcast engineering and user experience design can be combined to create a more immersive and intuitive live news experience.

As mobile screens increasingly become the primary gateway to information, the broadcaster believes Vertical TV could mark the beginning of a new phase in the evolution of television news consumption.