News Broadcasting
BBC World reaches 100 million homes
NEW DELHI: BBC World today announced its new distribution figures which show the channel is now available in more homes worldwide than ever before.
BBC World can now be received in 253.6 million homes in over 200 countries around the world. Of these, 100 million homes receive the channel on a 24-hour basis. In addition to the 830,000 hotel rooms, 15 airlines and 14 cruise ships already carrying the channel, this marks an all time high for BBC World’s global reach.
Director of Sales and Distribution, BBC World, Jeff Hazell, said; ” In just 15 months the total number of homes receiving BBC World has increased by 42 per cent (178m to 253.6m) and these increases have come from every region of the world. It is also very much in line with regional audience research received for the same period indicating that BBC World is the fastest growing international news channel around.”
Among the regions which experienced significant increases in 24 hour distribution of BBC World was India where the cable distribution has risen steadily from 11 to 15 million 24-hour homes. Europe also showed considerable growth, Eastern Europe in particular where cable is developing rapidly and BBC World is proving to be increasingly popular. In Western Europe, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain were notable for increases in both cable and satellite distribution. Elsewhere, Latin America continued to show steady growth in full and part time distribution, most significantly in Mexico, Venezuela and Argentina. In Asia Pacific, BBC World has also recently gone full time on Malaysia’s digital Astro satellite platform.
An official release informs that BBC World is also available on the two dominant satellites in the Middle East; Nilesat and Arabsat. In addition, part time distribution of BBC World has also experienced significant growth with an increase in the number of homes receiving the channel, specifically in Africa and the USA.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Kolkata Town Hall on Hooghly River
‘Bhalobasa Bengal Inspiring Bharat’ event on April 20 brings cultural icons, trailblazing women and leaders aboard a cruise to celebrate Bengal’s enduring influence.
MUMBAI: Bengal is about to make fresh waves on the Hooghly and this time the current is pure conversation. CNN-News18 is taking its iconic Town Hall format to the waters of the iconic Hooghly River on 20 April 2026 with a special edition titled ‘Bhalobasa Bengal – Inspiring Bharat’. The floating event will celebrate the state’s rich cultural legacy and how its ideas, creativity and spirit continue to shape the rest of the country.
The unique riverside setting draws on Bengal’s history as a cradle of reform, art and intellectual thought. The speaker line-up mirrors that diversity: cultural heavyweights Mithun Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar will share the stage with trailblazing “Devis” such as Tanya Sanyal (India’s first woman firefighter in aviation), Ipsita Chakraborty (Kolkata’s first woman bartender) and Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi (Nari Shakti awardee and marine pilot). Music will flow through the celebrated pianist-vocalist duo Sourendro and Soumyojit, while public life and governance will be represented by Smriti Irani, Leander Paes, Saira Shah Halim, Keya Ghosh, Rekha Patra, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director, Rahul Shivshankar, said the event honours voices that carry Bengal’s legacy forward. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that Bengal’s stories resonate far beyond its borders, especially as the state heads into polls.
From the first woman to battle flames in the skies to legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema, the gathering promises a rich mix of inspiration, courage and candid dialogue. In a city where culture has always flowed as freely as the river itself, CNN-News18 is turning the Hooghly into a floating forum for ideas that matter.
Tune in on 20 April on CNN-News18, CTV and YouTube to catch Bengal’s heartbeat in full flow.
