News Broadcasting
Showtime shifts broadcasting centre to Dubai Media City
MUMBAI: Showtime, the Middle East DTH pay TV platform recently opened the region’s largest broadcasting center in Dubai.
The centre can handle over 200 channels. Showtime was set up in 1996 between Kuwait Projects and US media conglomerate Viacom.
The move consolidated the network’s broadcast operations which had earlier been split between a purpose built facility at the MTV/Viacom studios in London, and a complementary uplink centre in Cairo.
Showtime broadcasts 50 channels of predominantly Western entertainment to the Middle East and North Africa from the NileSat position at 7 degrees West. The network also has customer contact centres located in Dubai, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan.
Three months ago Showtime launched a new movie channel Movietime. That took the number of film channels available on the network to 17.
The new 50,000 square feet Dubai facility also houses the network’s headquarters operations including sales and marketing activities and advanced call centre and online customer service functions.
Reports further indicate that Showtime’s new building is next to the Bukhatir owned Taj Television’s Ten Sports office. On an adjacent corner is MBC, the Saudi-owned mainstream network that also owns news satcaster Al-Arabiya. Alongside MBC is CNN’s Middle East operation.
News Broadcasting
TV9 to host What India Thinks Today Summit 2026 in Delhi
PM Narendra Modi to keynote two day forum on India and the world
NEW DELHI: TV9 Network is gearing up to host the fourth edition of its flagship What India Thinks Today Summit 2026 on March 23 and 24 in the national capital, bringing together a wide spectrum of voices to debate India’s place in a shifting global order.
The summit will open with a keynote address by Narendra Modi, setting the tone for this year’s theme, “India and the world”, as the country positions itself at the crossroads of economic growth, geopolitical shifts and technological change.
From cabinet ministers to chief ministers, business leaders to cultural figures, the event promises a crowded stage and a lively exchange of ideas. Union ministers such as Piyush Goyal and Jyotiraditya Scindia are expected to attend, alongside state leaders including Mohan Yadav, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Bhajan Lal Sharma, Nayab Singh Saini and Bhagwant Mann.
Political voices from across the aisle, including Smriti Irani, Akhilesh Yadav and Asaduddin Owaisi, will also join the conversation, ensuring that the debates are as diverse as they are dynamic.
Adding a cultural and sporting touch, personalities such as yoga guru Swami Ramdev, poet Kumar Vishwas and cricketing names like Sourav Ganguly, Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh are set to share the stage. Global business leaders and diplomats will further widen the lens, reflecting the summit’s international outlook.
Speaking ahead of the event, TV9 Network managing director and chief executive officer Barun Das, said India stands at a unique moment in history, combining demographic strength, technological capability and entrepreneurial energy. He noted that in uncertain times, honest conversations and bold ideas will shape the country’s trajectory.
The summit will explore themes ranging from economic growth and governance to innovation, sustainability and culture, positioning itself as a platform for dialogue at a time when the world is in flux.
With a packed agenda and a high-profile guest list, What India Thinks Today Summit 2026 aims to do more than just talk. It seeks to capture a moment where India is not only part of the global conversation, but increasingly helping lead it.
