News Broadcasting
Polls give channels more time for news restructure
NEW DELHI: Some of the news channels that had applied to the government seeking various clearances, have got an advantage by default. Because the general elections have been announced, the government will not take any policy decision.
Pointing out that senior mandarins from the information and broadcasting ministry are likely to meet the Election Commission officials tomorrow seeking guidance on various issues, a senior government official admitted, “News channels like Zee News and even Television Eighteen (a majority partner in the TV 18-CNBC business channel) have gained more time because no policy decision can be taken by the government.”
Though TV-18’s case is a bit different, the likes of Zee News and even some Indian-owned channels like Sun, Eenadu and Sab TV (who have announced plans for starting news channels) have official reasons to smile. In some cases, the delay on the government’s part can also be explained as a reason for deferring launches as well.
Some ten applications had been received by the I&B ministry where companies had sought permission to uplink and start news channels from India as also undertake restructuring to conform to the existing norms.
Meanwhile, influenced by the indecisiveness of the EC, the I&B ministry is still ambivalent whether to allow pubcaster Doordarshan to accept political advertisments and also charge a fee for giving airtime to various politicial parties — a tradition that was started when DD was the only TV broadcaster in the country.
Prasar Bharati, which manages DD and All India Radio, has conveyed to the ministry that it should be allowed to charge a fee for airtime given to political parties to air their agenda for the forthcoming general elections.
According to Prasar Bharati officials, the airtime devoted to such activities would amount to an opportunity cost of approximately Rs 160 million.
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.
