News Broadcasting
Crisil develops methodology to grade TV, film productions
MUMBAI: The mantra in the entertainment industry today is corporatisation. Another move in that direction was made with the announcement yesterday by Credit Rating and Information Services of India Ltd (Crisil) that it would grade film and television software productions to help lenders evaluate funding for upcoming entertainment projects.
“The comprehensive and objective analytical framework would assist banks, institutions and other lenders in evaluating film and television software producers,” Crisil was quoted as saying in a statement.
It is only recently that lending institutions, the Industrial Development Bank of India, being the most noted example, have stepped in to fund film projects based on clearly laid down norms.
Lenders could use the framework to systematically classify risks and objectively assess various risk issues before determining their exposure levels and interest rates for the entertainment industry.
For borrowers, who have had to source funds at exorbitant interest rates from the parallel market, the grading framework will act as a key facilitator in accessing institutional funds.
For television software producers, which are generally constituted as corporate entities, the grade would indicate Crisil’s opinion on credit worthiness of the entity.
Thus, the grade would reflect relative ability of the rated company to meet graded debt obligations, it said.
In case of film producers, it would assign a grade for a specific movie indicating the rating agency’s opinion on the producer’s ability to complete a particular project and recover costs incurred.
It is, therefore, possible that different movies of the same producer could get different grades, the statement added.
Crisil carried out the exercise on behalf of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Earlier, CII had produced the first authoritative “EnterMedia 2001” report, which determined the need for this project with Crisil.
“While the overall analytical approach includes an assessment of business risk, financial risk and management capabilities, the methodology derives its robustness from the level of detail in incorporating entertainment industry-specific parameters and benchmarks. Crisil has held active consultations with a wide number of industry players in developing the methodology,” the statement said.
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.
