News Broadcasting
BBC shows to air on IN Mumbai cable channel
MUMBAI: BBC World and IN Mumbai, the news and events channel of Hinduja Group MSO INCableNet, today announced a content sharing agreement that allows for the airing of the British pubcasters programmes on the channel.
Starting 2 December, three of BBC Worlds popular programmes Wheels, India Business Report and Talking Movies will be available to IN Mumbai cable subscribers as part of their weekly schedule.
The announcement further cements a relationship that was forged in June with the signing of a deal that allowed for the 24-hour carriage of the BBC World Service radio programmes on INCableNet.
Asked as to what time slots the three BBC shows were getting, IN Mumbai president Ramindar Singh said the highest viewership the channel got was in the 10 pm prime time band. This is where the shows would be positioned, Singh said. The shows will have a twice-daily (first at 9:30 am) airing on three days of the week, he added.
Regarding the revenue sharing arrangement the deal envisaged, BBC World airtime director of sales Jonathan Howlett would offer no clue and said that was still being worked out. Queried as to what sort of brand positioning BBC hoped to achieve through the cable carriage deal for the radio service and TV programmes, Howlett said the long-term aim was to expand presence across television, radio and the Internet in India. These were all parts of a composite effort in that direction, he added.
Howlett also raised the possibility that BBC programmes would be dubbed into Indian languages to offer a wider reach. For the 24-hour radio service, in addition to English programmes, there is also four hours of Hindi programmes every day and half an hour of Tamil programmes.
Meanwhile, commenting on the new distribution agreement, IN Network Entertainment Ltd CEO R C Khanduri said: “The agreement is of strategic importance and comes at a time when channels are anxious to reach larger audiences and at the same time to bring new and varied content to viewing audiences. The large subscriber base of IN Mumbai will mean a wider audience for BBC World programmes and we look forward to developing this association further.”
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.
