News Broadcasting
CBS sues ABC over claimed ‘Survivor’ infringement
NEW YORK: Reality shows have stirred up debate and controversy in the past. Now the latest issue to have come out relates to possible copyright infringement. US Network CBS Broadcasting has sued rival ABC accusing it of copying the format, look and feel of its highly popular reality series Survivor (airs in India on AXN) for its planned reality television series I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here.
A Reuters report indicates that CBS is seeking unspecified damages and a court order stopping ABC from airing the show in the US. The defendants in the suit are ABC, Granada Plc and Granada Entertainment USA.
In September, ABC and Granada announced an agreement to produce the series. Celebrity, which was broadcast in the United Kingdom in August, directly copies Survivor, the suit states.
The suit says that ABC and Granada have an agreement that Granada will develop and produce 15 episodes of Celebrity for exclusive broadcast by ABC in the United States.
The suit accuses Celebrity of copycating Survivor and trying to unfairly trade on its success. Like Survivor, Celebrity places participants in an unpleasant location. They are then forced to subsist on rice and water and compete in a series of physical and mental challenges .
Each Celebrity episode ends in elimination like Survivor. Further the suit states that the English Celebrity took place in the Australian Outback, the same setting used in the second Survivor cycle. The run was incidentally cut short in India due to protests from environmental organisations.
CBS has also pointed out that at the time of airing British news media referred to the Granada production as the “Celebrity Survivor.” In September, Castaway Productions Ltd, which owns the British rights to Survivor, also began litigation in the United Kingdom against Granada alleging copyright infringement the report says.
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.
