News Broadcasting
BBC’s teen brand Switch launches new content
MUMBAI: BBC’s teen brand BBC Switch has announced a raft of new content aimed at 12 to 17-year-olds, across TV and online at bbc.co.uk/switch.
The first programme to launch in late March/early April on BBC Two will be The Surgery. The remaining content will launch on BBC Two in May.
New teen talk show The Surgery will be a series of 15-minute programmes linked to BBC Radio 1’s The Surgery, giving British teenagers a voice. The show, hosted by new signing Jeff Leach, will deal with an assortment of topical issues facing teens such as dating, family, social networking, ASBOs, fashion, drinking and drugs, body image, celebs, politics and more.
Each week, Jeff will have an open and challenging discussion with the teen studio audience, with weekly contributions from teens across the UK. The Surgery will also have a dedicated section on bbc.co.uk/switch, which offers expert advice and practical information.
Class of 2008 is an observational documentary series that follows six up-and-coming young talented people in London on their creative journeys as they strive to establish themselves as successes in their fields of fashion, music, design, acting, DJing and entrepreneurship.
The eight-episode series will follow the group and their ups and downs as they try to land record deals, modelling contracts, acting roles, show fashion collections and launch club nights.
Revealed will be a journalism series of current affairs programmes that give an authentic depiction of the teenage world in the UK today. The show, presented by young journalists Charlotte Ashton and Anthony Baxter, will inform and lead viewers on a journey to make sense of a variety of subjects such as teen alienation, gangs, family life, sex, school and more.
Kyle XY is a teen drama from the US which will air for the first time on UK terrestrial TV. The show tells the story of a unique teenage boy Kyle, played by Matt Dallas, who has a mysterious past and the family that takes him in.
Launched in October 2007, BBC Switch is the BBC’s teen service delivering content to 12 to 17-year-olds across multiple platforms, TV, Radio 1 and online.
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.
