International
FCC confident as transition-day looms
MUMBAI: Just days before the transition to digital TV, 2.8 million households, or 2.5 per cent of the TV market, are unprepared. According to Nielsen‘s final update, the new tally is half of the 5.8 million that were unprepared in February, when the government postponed the transition by three months.
At a news conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday, acting FCC chairman Michael Copps reiterated the importance of the transition and said the agency was expecting relatively minor problems when the switchover begins Friday.
“This is the biggest transition in television, an even bigger transition than black and white to color,” Copps said. “Our whole society is going digital, and broadcast needs to be a part of that transition.”
Copps the Barack Obama appointed head of the FCC was also critical of the government‘s handling of the transition during the past two years.
Copps said the freed-up bandwidth will help establish a public safety network, as well as provide more room for wireless and broadband applications.
“We‘ve got some humps and bumps to navigate; there‘s still a number of people who don‘t know what to do,” Copps said. “We knew this transition was coming; the government was late getting itself organized … but we are where we are and have to make this transition.”
The FCC has employed 4,000 phone operators to be standing by through the weekend to handle calls coming through their information line (888-225-5322). Some broadcasters are layering on their own initiatives to help viewers make the switch. For example, in Los Angeles, the TV stations have set up their own phone bank to help ease the transition.
International
Russia-India cinematic spectacle Persimmon of My Love set for grand Moscow debut
Hindi cinema style musical revives Indo-Soviet cinema ties for today
MUMBAI: A new chapter in cross-border storytelling is set to unfold as Persimmon of My Love gears up for its premiere in Moscow on 1 April 2026, marking the first large-scale cinematic collaboration between Russia and India in decades.
Positioned as a modern nod to the cultural exchange that once brought Indian classics to Soviet audiences, the film blends Hindi cinema flair with Russian storytelling, aiming to rekindle a long-standing cinematic friendship.
Directed by Marius Weisberg, the musical comedy follows two brothers navigating a lively world of music, family and romance. The lead roles are played by Demis Karibidis and Mikhail Galustyan, with Karibidis also contributing as a screenwriter.
Shot entirely in India, the production leans heavily into Hindi cinema style spectacle. Filming took place across Mumbai studios and the cities of Udaipur and Jodhpur, whose architecture was used to create the fictional setting of Khurmada. A crew of over 350 worked on the project, with large-scale sequences featuring up to 1,000 extras.
The film also brings Indian creative talent into the mix. Dance sequences are choreographed by Jay Kumar, while music by Zurab Matua features songs in both Hindi and Russian, adding to its cross-cultural appeal.
Backed by TNT channel, MyWayStudio and the Russian Cinema Fund, the project reflects a broader push to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.
With its mix of colour, comedy and cross-border collaboration, Persimmon of My Love is not just a film release but a reminder that cinema, much like music, travels well across borders.
