News Broadcasting
Convergence legislation 6 months away – Mahajan
NEW DELHI: India will have to wait for at least six months before having a legislation to regulate and govern the convergence space encompassing the sectors of telecom, information technology and broadcasting.
“I foresee the Convergence Bill taking a final shape (after the suggestion of the parliamentary Standing Committee on Telecom & IT) sometime in May,” telecom, IT and parliamentary affairs minister Pramod Mahajan said to a query put to him by indiantelevision.com on the sidelines of the ongoing India Economic Summit organized by the World Economic Forum and the CII.
Asked about the status of the Convergence Communication Bill, which had been referred to the Standing Committee last year, Mahajan said, “The parliamentary panel has just submitted its report and in the beginning only some people have said whether the time is ripe for a Convergence legislation. I have not yet gone into the suggestion but will take a holistic approach once the report is studied.”
The Standing Committee, which submitted its report a few days ago to Parliament, has highlighted the fact some people who had deposed before it and sent information on the Bill had questioned the very need for such a piece of legislation at the moment.
According to Mahajan, if there is a need, after studying the Standing panel’s report, ‘another round of debate can be had in Parliament. “But I see the Bill being taken up (for discussion) by the Parliament only during the Budget session and that too in the latter half of the session after the (annual) Budget (of the country) has been discussed,” he added.
Mahajan said that he has asked his ministry to go into the Standing panel’s report on the Convergence Communication Bill that will take into account various comments collated by the panel while preparing its report. “once that has happened only then I can make up my mind and if need be we can have another round of discussion (on the issue) in Parliament.”
Asked whether he is in favour of an overall legislation for the convergence space, Mahajan said, “Personally I am in favour of such a piece of legislation because sometime or other it has to come. Earlier the work on it begins, the better.”
News Broadcasting
News18 India to air Sabse Bada Dangal on 4 May counting day
Channel promises fastest results, live trends and analysis across five states.
MUMBAI: Ballots will do the talking and screens will do the shouting. As counting day approaches for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, News18 India is gearing up for an all-day broadcast of its flagship election show, Sabse Bada Dangal, on 4 May from 6 am onwards. The Hindi news channel plans to deliver continuous, real-time updates as votes are tallied, combining live counting data with on-ground reporting and studio analysis. With political fortunes set to shift through the day, the coverage will track every swing, surge and surprise as trends turn into results.
The broadcast will feature a mix of senior political leaders, analysts and experts, offering instant reactions and decoding the evolving electoral picture. Expect heated debates, quick takes and detailed breakdowns as the numbers settle across all five states.
For News18 India, counting day has long been a high-visibility moment. The network is banking on its reporting reach, editorial bandwidth and technology-driven coverage to stay ahead in what is often a fiercely competitive news cycle.
With multiple battlegrounds and shifting narratives, the day promises both drama and data in equal measure. And if all goes to plan, Sabse Bada Dangal will once again turn the counting of votes into prime-time spectacle.
