News Broadcasting
15 million watch Granada’s Michael documentary
LONDON: The man the pop world now loves to laugh at can still draw viewers like nobody in the business. British broadcaster Granada said its Living with Michael Jackson documentary netted an average of 14 million viewers on Monday, around double the usual UK viewer figures for entertainment programmes.
The 90-minute documentary, consisting of exclusive interviews conducted by British journalist Martin Bashir while he spent eight months with the reclusive star, peaked at 15 million viewers, giving it 54 per cent of the TV audience, Reuters quoted a company spokesman as saying today.
This probably gives the documentary a shot at the top spot in the ratings charts, usually dominated by soap operas like Granada’s Coronation Street and EastEnders, made by the BBC.
In the latest data compiled by Broadcaster magazine, Coronation Street topped the index for the week ending 12 January with 14.8 million viewers, the Reuters report says.
Granada has already sold the rights of the Jackson documentary to US network ABC, which won a bidding war with NBC after forking out a reported $ 4 million to $ 5 million and has scheduled it for prime time on 7 February. ABC will telecast the documentary as a two-hour edition of its news magazine “20/20.”
The Jackson documentary includes footage of the singer with his children and behind-the-scenes glimpses of life at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in California.
British journalist Martin Bashir spent eight months with Jackson and was with him when Jackson horrified onlookers by dangling his baby from a hotel balcony in Berlin, ABC has said.
Granada is in negotiations with a number of TV companies in other countries, and had already sold the Australian rights to Channel 7.
Jackson may no longer be the king of pop, but he has a proven track record as a television draw.
Some 25.7 million viewers tuned into “Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special” on CBS in November 2001; viewership increased every half-hour for the program, culled from tapes of a Madison Square Garden tribute concert appearance, the Associated Press has reported.
Meanwhile, NBC has lined up its own Jackson special for “Dateline NBC” titled “Michael Jackson Unmasked,” which is scheduled to air on 17 February. And for those who may be thinking that NBC is doing a copycat routine its not the case. NBC had announced it’s Jackson special before ABC bagged its prize.
Bashir interviewed Princess Diana for the BBC in 1995 which may explain how he managed to get the reclusive pop star to open up to him.
An ABC News spokesman has been quoted by AP as saying the interview includes Jackson responding to questions about his plastic surgeries and past allegations of child molestation.
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.
