News Broadcasting
Anti-broadcaster slogans raised at pro-CAS demonstration in capitals
NEW DELHI: A protest demonstration called by the Consumer Action Network (CAN) highlighting the “consumer’s point of view” on the issue of conditional access systems (CAS) in central Delhi today saw anti- broadcaster slogans being raised
The demonstrators also expressed their ire at the government for dragging its feet on clearing the amendments to the Cable TV (Networks) Regulation Act that will facilitate implementation of CAS. The Rajya Sabha (Upper House) has still to clear the Cable TV (Networks) Amendment Bill 2002. Lacking a majority in the Upper House, the government needs to to evolve a consensus around the bill if it has to get it passed.
Meanwhile, the press conference called today by the Delhi-based National Cable and Telecom Association (NCTA) to highlight the inadequacy of the government in enacting the CAS legislation turned out to be a tame affair with all the speakers re-iterating that the technology sought to be implemented is good and cannot be so easily tampered with as has been alleged.
A certain section of the broadcast industry has alleged that the analog set top box, central to the CAS rollout, can easily be tampered with and hence the issue of piracy of signals cannot be addressed through the present CAS system the government seeks to implement.
News Broadcasting
Mihir Bhatt appointed as chief content officer at News18 Studios
The media veteran brings two decades of experience across television, digital and radio to one of India’s biggest broadcast networks, Disney+ Hotstar, Discovery+
NEW DELHI: Network18 has a new strategist in the building. Mihir Bhatt, one of Indian media’s more versatile operators, has joined News18 Studios as chief content officer, stepping into a role that will see him shape content strategy, build multi-platform properties and drive brand partnerships across the network.
Bhatt brings more than two decades of experience spanning television, digital and radio, with a track record of doing something rare in Indian media: combining editorial ambition with hard commercial results. At Times Network, where he served as managing editor and chief business officer of Times Influence, he built one of the industry’s more respected content studios, launching marquee properties such as the India Economic Conclave, the Times Now Summit and Leaders of Tomorrow. He also pushed the network into premium OTT territory through tie-ups with Disney+ Hotstar and Discovery+.
His resume stretches well beyond the studio. Bhatt has led Global Investor Summits for multiple state governments, worked alongside the World Economic Forum and played a pivotal role in launching the Indian Pickleball League. Earlier, as editor of Zee Business, he pioneered investor education initiatives that are still cited as industry benchmarks.
At News18 Studios, Bhatt will report to chief executive S Shivakumar and will oversee the studios execution vertical alongside revenue verticals covering emerging markets and campaigns. Sidharth Saini, Hemanth Kumar and Nimar Sarkaria will work under him.
Rahul Joshi, managing director and editor-in-chief of Network18 Group, made the announcement in an internal communication. “Mihir’s ability to build enduring brands, foster strategic partnerships and navigate a rapidly evolving media landscape will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our position and explore new avenues of growth in the Studios business,” Joshi said.
In a media industry lurching between disruption and reinvention, Network18 has bet on a man who has spent two decades thriving in exactly that chaos. Whether he can do it again, at greater scale, is the question worth watching.
