News Broadcasting
Viacom to launch VHI Australia
MUMBAI: MTV Networks Asia has announced that it will launch VH1 Australia next month. This marks MTV Networks’ first fully owned and operated service in Australia. VH1 Australia will be available via Foxtel Digital and Austar Digital.
MTV Asia president Frank Brown was quoted in an official release saying, “VH1 is the premium music entertainment brand that explores and celebrates the power of the music, artists and pop culture that matter most to the 25-44 year old viewer. More importantly, it is a channel that complements the music programming currently available and will serve to provide greater choice for the Australian viewers.
“With an estimated one in four households in Australia already embracing subscription-TV and access to digital technology set to make it even more attractive to consumers, the timing is ideal for MTV Networks to extend its presence in the marketplace with a fully owned and operated service”.
Through a mix of original series, documentaries, live events and music videos, VH1 Australia will put the spotlight on pop icons. Special events such as Divas Live and the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards will compliment a line-up of never-before-seen original series including The Fabulous Life, All Access, Driven.
Meanwhile MTV Asia also announced the appointment of Nigel Robbins as VH1 Australia’s GM and Andrew Hoppe as the network’s director of programming and operations. Both of them will focus on strategic growth and development of VH1 Australia operations. Robbins will report directly to Brown.
Robbins is directly responsible for the strategic development and day-to-day management of VH1 Australia. His responsibilities involve overseeing the channels programming, production, advertising sales, marketing, finance, business affairs, research, communications and artist relations.
Robbins added, “There couldnt be a better time to be launching VH1 in Australia, with the digital landscape offering viewers an even more dynamic mix of programming. VH1 very much compliments that mix by providing a fresh music television alternative that focuses its attention on music, celebrity, and pop culture for the savvy 25-plus audience.”
VH1 claims to be currently available in almost 100 million television households worldwide.
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.
