News Broadcasting
CNN goes the Thai way
MUMBAI: CNN has announced a series of specials later this month that will focus on popular tourist destination Thailand.
Anchor/correspondent Lian Pek talks to business leaders and entrepreneurs and examines various business stories from inside the country from 14 to 18 October, in a series of special reports. The topics range from pizzas, the country’s film industry to the threat of music piracy.
On 14 October, Copyright Fee Controversy take centrestage. The land of the pirated CD in Thailand is struggling to come to terms with paying copyright fees as some of the country’s biggest music companies vow to collect fees from entertainment businesses that use their recordings. The Thai government has also been lobbied to set up a one-stop collection center. CNN will examine this controversial collection drive in this special report.
Pizza Warrior airs on 15 October. A longtime foreign investor in Thailand, Bill Heinecke is in charge of the Minor Group, which used to have a decades-old relationship with Pizza Hut. Heinecke discusses his vision on doing business in the country and his newly set up pizza chain, Pizza Company.
The next day Challenging CEOs features an interview with the Chairman and CEO of the C.P. Group – Dhanin Chearavanont. He is Thailands leading agri-businessman, who made this year’s Forbes list of billionaires.
New Karaoke Trend sees Pek looking into the latest karaoke trend in Thailand. Coin-operated booths in department stores are getting more popular, making karaoke as much a daytime activity as a nighttime activity. The new phenomenon is filling the gap between the upmarket lounges and roadside foodstalls with karaoke facilities. CNN takes a close look at how this business is flourishing.
The programmes end with Thai Film Industry Revival on 18 October. The revival of the Thai film industry in recent years is encouraging entertainment companies to invest more in local productions. Some of these productions are earning international recognition. In this special report, CNN looks at the health of the film industry in Thailand.
The shows air on News Biz Today: Monday to Friday at 6 am (live) as well as Biz Asia: Monday to Friday at 7:30 pm (live), with repeats at 9 pm Hong Kong time.
News Broadcasting
India Today Group debuts AI anchor ‘Sutra’ at AI Impact Summit 2026
Sutra aims to simplify live policy debates using sovereign AI models
NEW DELHI: India Today Group has unveiled Sutra, an AI-driven news anchor designed to deliver real-time, contextual reporting, marking the group’s latest push to integrate artificial intelligence into mainstream journalism.
The AI anchor was introduced at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi and developed in collaboration with BharatGen, with the initiative showcased by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
India Today Group said Sutra is built to navigate complex policy discussions and fast-moving developments by synthesising information into concise, accessible insights, aimed at narrowing the gap between high-level debates and public understanding. The AI anchor was used to surface live takeaways from key sessions at the summit.
India Today Group chief AI officer Nilanjan Das, said the project was focused on clarity and accessibility without diluting editorial rigour. He added that working with BharatGen aligned the group’s AI ambitions with India’s broader push towards sovereign technology capabilities.
BharatGen CEO Rishi Bal, said the partnership reflected a shift from basic automation towards deeper contextual intelligence in media. He emphasised the importance of indigenous, multimodal AI models capable of understanding Indian languages, regional dialects and cultural nuance, particularly as AI-driven news formats gain traction.
The launch positions India Today Group among the first major Indian media houses to deploy an AI anchor backed by home-grown technology, underscoring a growing convergence between journalism, public policy and sovereign AI infrastructure.
