News Broadcasting
B4U claims tidy profit for FIFA World Cup deferred telecast on DD
As the Fifa World Cup heads for its grand finale tomorrow between perennial favourites Brazil and a determined Germany, some tallies are already being made. B4U Networks, which bought the terrestrial telecast rights from holder Taj Sports, says it managed a good profit from the event.
Speaking about the deferred telecast on national broadcaster Doordarshan, Says B4U’s chief distribution officer Debashish Dey: The tournament was not only a great brand building exercise for us, but we broke even and even managed a tidy profit out of it.”
Responding to doubts as to the how much brand benefit was garnered from it considering that B4U’s name only appeared in the credits, Dey said the telecast on DD1 with repeats on the 36 regional kendras (centres) was benefit enough.
Dey said 70 per cent of the inventories had been sold and this was because the 11 pm timing was ideal if one considered that soccer viewing essentially had a male audience. Dey’s contention was that it was only from 11 pm onwards that the TV remote was in the male hands. His point being that earlier than that it was the woman of the house that decided what was to be watched.
Ten (Taj Entertainment Network) Sports, which held the rights for India, had sold the terrestrial telecast rights to LMB Holdings (promoter of B4U Networks). B4U then thrashed out an an agreement with DD that cleared the way for the deferred telecast on DD of four matches and a daily highlights capsule.
As per the terms of the deal between Taj and LMB, the terrestrial rights allowed for transmission of four full games – the opening game, two semifinals and the finals on a six-hour delayed telecast. They also included a daily hourly highlights package, also on a six-hour delayed basis.
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.
