News Broadcasting
BBC Worldwide to distribute Canadian drama ‘The Session’ globally
MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has succeeded in picking the international distribution rights to highly anticipated Canadian drama, The Session.
The deal sees BBC Worldwide as the exclusive international sales partner for the drama which is being produced by one of Canada’s leading production houses, Temple Street Productions.
Scheduled for the 2008-2009 season on CBC, The Session stars Erin Karpluk and Michael Riley and tells the story of Erica Strange, who is given the incredible opportunity to see her life from a different perspective when a mysterious therapist gives her the chance to go back in time and relive moments from her past.
BBC Worldwide’s director of independents Helen Jackson who was responsible for brokering the deal with Temple Street said, “The Session is a fantastic concept, with a truly universal appeal. Who doesn’t sometimes look back on their life and think about what they might have done differently?
“Given the subject matter and Temple Street’s pedigree for producing high quality shows, we know that it is a series that will play well with international audiences, and we’re really happy to have this opportunity to show Ivan and David what BBC Worldwide can do.”
David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, both co-presidents of Temple Street Productions and Executive Producers on the series said, “We’re really proud of The Session. It has a fantastic cast and a great story to tell which transcends geographic borders and cultures.
Having BBC Worldwide on board as our international distribution partner is a real coup for us and will help ensure that The Session is seen by audiences around the world.”
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.
