News Broadcasting
Funeral held for Kerry Packer
MUMBAI: A funeral service for the late Australian media moghul Kerry Packer was held today on his rural New South Wales property, Ellerston.
A statement sent by the family said that at a brief service, they gave thanks for a life of courage and giving. “Kerry is now at peace.”
A hearse entered Ellerston property with only the immediate family around to bid their final farewell. With the media magnate’s passion for polo and intensely private nature well documented, Ellerston proved a fitting location to close the final chapter on Australia’s richest man, state media reports.
Battling many health ailments over long years, Packer died on Monday at his Sydney home of kidney failure. A public memorial service takes place next year.
Packer was Australia’s richest man – thought to be worth A$6.9billion (or nearly £3billion).- he had made success or lost money in many different businesses from television stations, magazines, films, cattle stations, engineering works, property and building, ski resorts, plantations, mines, chemicals and mineral water.
His empire meant a holding of 30 per cent in Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd.,(PBL) which operates Australia’s Channel Nine television network, publishes a bunch of magazines, and has interests in Australian casinos.
James Packer returned to work just 36 hours after his father’s death, and began the process of taking charge of the media and gaming giant at PBL. He is to face his first challenge with the Seven and Ten networks expected to counter Nine’s rights to broadcast AFL.
Kerry Packer had secured the $780 million deal for the Nine Network just days before his death. The new agreement, starting in 2007, dwarves the current $500 million, five-year agreement involving Nine, Ten and Foxtel.
Seven and Ten have until January 6 to match Nine’s five-year offer.
The PBL board have given their public support behind James and his charge of the company. Chief executive John Alexander said on on behalf of the board, “(James) has a very clear vision for the future development of the company which was enthusiastically supported by the board.”
News Broadcasting
Zee Business corners 74.2 per cent market share on Budget Day, BARC data shows
Channel extends lead as investors tune in for policy decoding and markets
MUMBAI: Zee Business tightened its grip on India’s business news audience on Union Budget Day, commanding a 74.2 per cent market share during peak coverage hours, according to data from Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC).
The numbers, tracked between 0800 and 1000 hrs in north India among NCCS ABC males aged 22 and above, underscore the channel’s dominance as investors and traders tuned in for real-time policy decoding and market reaction. The share was calculated across two business news channels.
Industry executives say the spike mirrors an earnings-call-style verdict from viewers: speed, clarity and conviction won the day. Zee Business has retained its leadership beyond Budget Day, topping the charts on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, signalling sustained audience loyalty rather than a one-off surge.
The ratings momentum carried into Budget Samvad 2026, the channel’s flagship post-Budget discussion, broadcast live from the Bombay Stock Exchange. The session was moderated by Zee Business managing editor Anil Singhvi, and featured market veteran Ramesh Damani, among other participants.
Viewers were drawn to wall-to-wall Budget analysis, sharp market calls and plain-English interpretation of policy measures: an approach that continues to differentiate the channel in a crowded news market.
“The 74.2 per cent share reflects viewer trust in timely and credible market insight,” Singhvi said, adding that the post-Budget forum was designed to move beyond headlines and unpack the implications for investors and the broader economy.
