News Broadcasting
BBC Worldwide chief Rupert Gavin quits
MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide chief executive Rupert Gavin has resigned. Gavin’s resignation follows the corporation’s announcement of a wide-ranging review of its entire commercial operation.
Gavin who joined BBC Worldwide in 1998 has been regarded as the driving force behind the success of the Worldwide enterprise. Gavin will assist the BBC on finding a replacement and handover issues until he leaves in October.
Gavin said in his statement, “This is the seventh record year in succession that we have achieved since I joined BBC Worldwide back in 1998. Since that date, we have generated a total of ?704 million for the BBC and are well on our way to achieving the long term targets that the government set us.
“In addition the company achieved a record 109 industry and consumer awards in 2003/04, including Exporter of the Year at the prestigious International Business Awards, emphasising the quality and excellence of our work.
“From this position of strength, I have decided now is the right time to stand down as CEO of BBC Worldwide.”
Gavin mentioned the company’s review plan saying, “As you know, a review of commercial businesses, including BBC Worldwide, is currently underway, led by the BBC’s Chief Operating Officer John Smith. This is due to report by the end of 2004. I will assist the BBC on handover issues until I leave in October,” he said.
BBC director-general Mark Thompson said: “Rupert has taken Worldwide to record levels of success and the company is now a market leader in key areas both in the UK and globally.
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.
