News Broadcasting
BBC World explores the ‘Ad World’ with new series
MUMBAI: BBC World is now exploring the advertising sector by focussing on a whole new show Ad World which see its sight at what really goes on behind the scenes in the glamorous world of advertising.
Ad World is a new seven-part series which will take a look at the stories, the myths and some of the brains behind India’s best-known advertising campaigns.
The series which is a part of BBC World’s India Business Report programme strand, begins on Sunday, 7 March at 11.00 am. The series will be aired every Sunday at 11 am with a repeat telecast at 10 pm on the same day.
BBC World commissioning editor Narendhra Morar says, “For many people in India, the advertising industry still seems like a mysterious world. This series, the first review of the state of the industry, now aims to arm businesspeople with the information they need about the world of advertising and bust a few myths along the way.”The series launches with an overview of India’s advertising sector, before exploring sometimes controversial issues in each of its following six episodes:
Episode One (7 March): The Indian advertising industry – never had it so good? The industry has seen phenomenal growth since the liberalisation of the Indian economy and markets are expanding. But the size of the industry, compared to other developing countries, is still quite small. The episode also gives an overview of Indian advertising over the last fifty odd years.
Episode Two (14 March): Ad war or cat-fight? This episode focuses on those celebrated brand rivalries such as Coke-Pepsi and Ariel-Surf Excel and their advertising clashes and tries to find an answer to whether campaigns are becoming more ‘in-your face’ to gain attention?
Episode Three (21 March): Woman Power: selling to women – and using women to sell to men. This episode will also look at the effects of this phenomenon from the point of view both of the advertising community and of the social scientist.
Episode Four (28 March): This episode tackles the question – When is advertising not advertising? It also explores the ethics and pitfalls of advertising law and how to avoid them. The episode goes inside the mind of a media planner, whose role is critical in navigating difficult issues such as cigarette and alcohol advertising.
Episode Five (4 April): Make mine Indian-style – how have the multinationals and their agencies coped with having to adapt to the famous ‘Indian Conditions’ – or perish?
Episode Six (11 April): Big money, big names – This episode gives a peek at why big stars are chosen to endorse different brands and whether their high fees is justified?
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
