News Broadcasting
Teletubbies celebrates 10 years in 2007
MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC’s famous children’s property Teletubbies celebrates ten years of existence next year. In this television show for babies, the four colourful Teletubbies coo and play in idyllic Teletubbyland.
They repeat fun, infant-pleasing activities such as rolling on the ground, laughing, running about, and watching real children on the televisions on their bellies. Mysterious pinwheels and telephones rise out of the meadow to loosely direct the day’s activities. The Sun, featuring a baby’s face, comments on the proceedings with baby noises, and it rises and sets to begin and end the show.
The broadcaster says that Teletubbies changed the children’s market forever when it launched in 1997 and continues its success as has established itself as an ‘evergreen’ brand.
When Teletubbies arrived on British screens in 1997, it was met with strong reactions from all sides, children were mesmerised. The press were curious and teachers and educationalists didn’t know what to make of a programme so entirely different from anything that they had seen before.
10 years on the BBC says that it is clear that few children’s brands can match Teletubbies in terms of its overall brand awareness, resonance with consumers or its’ cultural impact. A whole generation has now enjoyed Teletubbies’ uniqueness and appeal.
Teletubbies was created by Anne Wood and Andy Davenport and has been seen in 120 countries, translated into 45 different languages
On the merchanidsing front Teletubbies toys distributed by Tomy have continued to perform well over time. Recent figures released by NPD Eurotoys reveal that Teletubbies was the fastest growing existing Infant License in 2005.
Furthermore, the Telly Tummy plush by Tomy was the UK’s 3rd top-selling infant toy in 2005. BBC Worldwide has renewed Tomy’s master toy licence for Europe for a further three years (end December 2008) in recognition of the strong partnership and value that Tomy adds to the brand. The contract covers distribution in the UK, Ireland, France and Belguim, and global manufacturing rights (ex-North America) for Plush and Pre-school Plastics toys.
To provide new stimulus for product and packaging during this anniversary period a new ‘Teleterrific’ style guide is launching at this year’s Spring Fair. This guide sees a departure from the traditional Teletubbies brand look and captures emerging trends in fashion with a bolder, graphic style designed to appeal to the fashion-conscious consumer of today.
2007 will be marked by a brand and trade marketing campaign designed to support the product range and introduce the brand to another generation of Teletubby fans.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
