News Broadcasting
Cricket: Finally, AIR gets Indo-England series
NEW DELHI: The cricket soap opera continues to hold centre stage as All India Radio (AIR) today said it has managed to get hold of rights to the on-going India-England cricket series after missing out the first Test.
The second Test cricket, which begins at Mohali, Chandigarh tomorrow now will be available to listeners on 65 medium wave and four FM radio frequencies of AIR.
According to an official of Prasar Bharati, which manages AIR and sibling Doordarshan, after hectic negotiations a deal was swung with the rights holder of Indian cricket, Nimbus, over the last 24 hours.
After the first Test went missing on AIR, there were token protests from various people that a large number of the Indian population will not get to enjoy cricket being played in India.
Though, Prasar Bharati was shy of revealing the financial details — as was Nimbus — the official admitted the asking fee for the rights has been scaled down and the deal is mutually beneficial for everybody concerned.
AIR was deprived of the running commentary of the first Test after it said that the asking price of $ 300,000 for the entire series was “too high”.
It is now learnt that Nimbus, which has had long standing relationship with Prasar Bharati, agreed to pare the rights price considerably.
With this deal, AIR will get to air the remaining part of the cricket series, comprising three Tests and seven one-day internationals.
Meanwhile, Indian cricket board sources indicated that Anil
Ambani-controlled Adlabs, which is yet to start FM radio stations, might land the rights for FM radio that had not been sold till now.
However, when questioned on the issue, an official of the information and broadcasting ministry said it has not cleared cricket commentary as non-news and current affairs programming.
Earlier, Prasar Bharati, along with the ministry, had maintained that cricket commentary cannot be categorized as entertainment and falls under news and current affairs, which is not allowed on private FM radio stations.
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.
