News Broadcasting
BBC Worldwide strengthens south Asian sales team
MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has promoted Sunil Joshi to head of distribution for BBC Global News in south Asia, and appointed Stanley Fernandes as sales director for south Asia.
Joshi was elevated from his prior role of heading up distribution for the north and western India. In his new role, he will oversee the distribution sales of BBC Global News’ content, including television, online and mobile productions.
Both will be based in Mumbai and report to Myleeta Aga, SVP and general manager for India and content head for Asia.
Joshi will partner with Sirsendu Chakravarty, who handles the eastern region; Hemang Pathak, who handles the west; Sethuraman Sathyanarayanan, for the southern region as well as digital; and Sandra Fernandes, for corporate.
In Fernandes’ new role, he will build and lead BBC Worldwide’s television content sales to linear channels and digital platforms in India and the subcontinent. Previously, he was the senior manager at Disney Media Distribution.
“Sunil has a great depth of relationships in the distribution network and wealth of insights that will help contribute to our next phase of growth in south Asia,” said Aga. “Stanley has joined us at a very important time as we move into the new regional structure with strong market focus.”
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.
