News Broadcasting
Adult fare ban: guarded response from channels
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court’s order issued yesterday restraining TV channels from telecasting adult movies or programmes without prior permission of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has been greeted cautiously by the TV industry. Some of the channels remained non-committal when queried about their next step.
AXN programming head Rohit Bhandari said the channel would continue with its present schedule since it hasn’t received the court order yet.
“We will continue with our present schedule. We are not going to take any show off as of now since the court order hasn’t reached us yet. We will plan our future moves only after having a look at the ruling. Adhering to the present guidelines we have been telecasting adult programmes in the late-night time band (11:00 pm – 6:00 pm) only,” said Bhandari.
Zee TV business head Abhijit Saxena reserved his comments saying the channel had yet to receive the order. Star TV and Sun TV officials were unavailable for comment.
The issue has come up following a ruling delivered yesterday on a PIL filed by a Mumbai resident. Chief Justice DS Bhandari and Justice DY Chandrachud has issued an order restraining channels, among which are Star TV, Sony TV, Zee TV, Udaya TV, AXN TV and Sun Network’s Surya TV, from telecasting adult movies and programmes without prior permission of the CBFC. The court has also asked the channels to file affidavits stating how many adult movies were shown during the last three months with timing details.
In the light of the ban, some of the movies Star Movies has lined up for September might raise a few eyebrows, not so much the selection as the timing. The channel is premiering The Guru on 4 September at 9 pm. On 25 September it scheduled to telecast the Jennifer Aniston starrer The Good Girl at 9 pm. The Angelina Jolie starrer Mojave Moon is scheduled for a 7:05 pm airing on 19 September. Another Jolie starrer Original Sin is slotted at 6:50 pm on 26 September.
In the late-night time band AXN has been telecasting adult shows Hot and Wild, Celebrities Uncensored and Bikini Destinations. HBO has the adult show Sex and the City for the late night viewer segment and Zee English is set to premiere Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Calendar 2000-2004 on 5 September.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
