News Broadcasting
BBC World news launches in US with RealNetworks
MUMBAI: BBC World chairman Michael Grade has announced that BBC World News, the international news and information channel, will be launched in the US. The channel will be available as part of Real’s SuperPass broadband service.
In a statement issued, the agreement with RealNetworks is BBC World’s first step to giving US audiences a taste of the BBC World News schedule and will be available to RealNetworks’ subscribers. A 14-day free trial is available at www.real.com. Selected BBC World News programming is already broadcast in around 86 million US homes daily on PBS, and at breakfast-time and at 1800 ET on BBC America.
BBC World News is available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide and reaches 270 million households (127 million 24-hour homes).
BBC World’s Editorial director, Sian Kevill says: “Independent research has shown a 40 per cent increase in the US audience demand for international news recently. BBC World News can deliver this, and has a worldwide reputation for impartial and accurate reporting, and this is at the core of what our teams do to ensure we bring the stories behind the headlines to our audience.”
“We are extremely pleased to bring BBC World News to our US subscribers,” adds RealNetworks Director international video services Douglas Glen. “This extension of our long-standing partnership in Europe demonstrates the great demand for timely, relevant and global news at your fingertips.”
“We are thrilled with the opportunity to offer our US SuperPass members the highly regarded coverage of BBC World News,” said Dan Sheeran, Senior Vice President, Music & Video, RealNetworks. “Our members will now have access to live coverage of world events and programming 24/7.”
BBC World’s director of distribution and business development Jeff Hazell says: “We have received great interest from a number of US operators looking to take the BBC World News channel on a full-time basis. Our partnership with RealNetworks in the US is a first for BBC World News and we believe that it will generate further audience demand for the channel and bring us closer to launching a 24-hour offer on US cable, satellite and other digital platforms in the United States.”
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.
