Factual
Babies will help Discovery Channel kick of the New Year
For adults who think babies are too cute and something special Discovery has a treat. 'World Birthday' will premiere on the Channel on 1 January at 8.00 p.m. It is a co-production of Discovery Networks International (DNI), TLC (The Learning Channel) and the Granada/New York Times Joint Venture.
The focus rests on twelve babies born around the globe on 5 July. The locations run the gamut from Beijing to one of the greatest cities in the world San Francisco. Discovery sent nine teams of video journalists to nine countries across five continents.
Prepare for the unpredictable as the families have diverse ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds. The program will show the reaction of different cultures to a newborn
In Beijing a family has twins. Unfortunately the twins condition becomes critical and so the husband must come up with the cash to get the babies transferred to a specialist hospital.
The situation is a little worse in Nazareth, Ethiopia: A young, first-time mother experiences excessive bleeding after her son is born and requires a blood transfusion, but the hospital lacks the resources. In Brazil the child being born will not have a father. He was shot and killed in the hardware shop the couple owned.
In Kara, India the overcrowded hospital are scrutinised. The woman's family waits outside of the hospital and, like other families, passes tea and food through the gates to the hungry patients.
In Cairo, Egypt the Islamic faith run deep in the blood like Afghanistan. So the family will make sure the first words their newborn hears come from the Koran
In England a woman is going a child through a man she has known for just three months. But both claim to be strongly committed to raising a family together.
In San Francisco it is a question of life and death. A Ukranian couple gives birth to a first-generation American. In another area of the hospital, a woman in the final stages of her pregnancy may die. She spends hours of painful labor. The doctors must perform an emergency caesarian to save her and her child
Discovery Channel India was launched in 1995 and claims to reach over 21 million homes. The network offers a 24-hour parallel Hindi audio feed in addition to an English audio feed. Discovery Channel is also aired as a one-hour block on DD Metro, Monday to Friday from 12pm to 1pm. It is available through PanAmSat IV.
MUMBAI: India’s most famous hot seat is about to welcome an unlikely first-timer. For the first time on Hindi general entertainment television, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla will appear on Kaun Banega Crorepati, the iconic quiz show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.
The special episode marks a rare meeting point of boardroom heft and prime-time television, bringing one of India’s most influential business leaders face to face with the country’s most enduring screen legend. It is a crossover that blends intellect, leadership and popular culture, all under KBC’s familiar spotlight.
Birla’s appearance dovetails neatly with the show’s current theme, Jahaan Akal Hai, Wahan Akad Hai, which celebrates the confidence that comes from clarity of thought and knowledge. His presence lends weight to the idea that sharp thinking and conviction are as vital in life as they are in the quiz chair.
In a thoughtful conversation with Bachchan, Birla shared an upbeat view of India’s economic journey, pointing to the nation’s rapid growth and the scale of opportunity opening up across industries and communities. He spoke of momentum, ambition and a future shaped by enterprise and ideas.
The episode is not all serious talk. In lighter moments, Birla confessed his long-standing admiration for Bachchan, calling him his favourite actor and admitting to a touch of nervousness at answering questions in front of the Shahenshah himself. The candour adds a human touch to a man more often seen in headlines than on television sets.
The special episode airs on Monday, 29 December at 9.00 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.
