News Broadcasting
Bollywood makes its mark on South African TV
MUMBAI: After the news of US cable outfits offering Bollywood video-on-demand, comes the news that our filmi fare is eagerly lapped up in springbok country too.
Bollywood on 3″, a new slot on SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) commercial channel SABC 3 has gone into the second season of airing Bollywood movies on prime time every weekend.
SABC Regional Manager, Laurence Michelle
SABC regional manager Laurence Michelle, speaking to Indiantelevision.com said, “The Indian diaspora in SA is fairly influential, two things that we follow very closely about India are – the Indian cricket team and Bollywood.”
Here in Mumbai to attend the 2nd India International Film Convention, the exhibition floor of which has been taken up completely by the South African delegation, Laurence in an address to the audience stated, “The South African national broadcaster, SABC through its commercial TV Channel SABC 3 prides itself in its strategy of being locally rooted and globally connected. We aspire to our commitment of being bold trendsetters in broadcasting and offer our viewers appointment viewing. In line with these strategies, Bollywood was recognised as a product that has impacted greatly on Western culture for example, London’s channel 4 has a successful Bollywood slot, then there is the successfulKumars.”
Continuing he said, “The International success of the Bollywood phenomenon prompted the channel to associate itself with the global Bollywood brand and we decided to offer our viewers something completely different on a Saturday night. Bollywood affords viewers around the world an appetite of movies that offer pure escapist value. It takes viewers into a world away from our ordinary daily lives and offers us 2-3 hours of pure fun, glamour and entertainment.”
Talking about how successful Bollywood was in drawing viewership, Laurence told the audience,”The first season of Bollywood on 3 increased viewership in the slot by 30 per cent in the LSM 8-10 audiences, 110 per cent in all adults; 20 per cent in Afrikaans-speaking audiences and 670 per cent in the most popular recent Bollywood titles like Devdas, Baghban, Munnabhai MBBS, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Dil Se. Apart from the overwhelming positive response received from audiences across the board, the media supported the venture incredibly well and continues to do so.”
“This is, of course, great news for you all” added Laurence speaking to the gathering of film producers.
“We have recently launched the second season of Bollywood on 3 and the audience response after the first 3 movies has yet again reflected a phenomenal increase in viewership. We experienced a 30 per cent increase in LSM 8-10, 110 per cent in English-speaking adults and a 770 per cent increase in Indian audiences.” he informed.
“At SABC we are looking forward to working closely with India,” concluded Laurence.
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.
