News Broadcasting
Discovery US probing the reality genre
MUMBAI: Last year Discovery US entered the reality genre with American Chopper. The documentary style reality series chronicled a family-owned motorcycle building business in a small upstate New York town. Encouraged by the response the broadcaster is said to be developing 12 primetime pilots.
A Reuters report indicates that the broadcaster is trying to find new ways to innovate its Discovery genres. Discovery already has begun airing pilots on Friday nights and gauging their ratings performance in consideration of a full-series order. Gold Star Racing a three-episode arc about the world of go-kart competition is being tested, with Discovery expected to make a decision soon. Another potential series being prepared focuses on a family in the Alaskan crab fishing business.
Meanwhile film and video production company Hoggard Films will produce Forbidden Zone for the broadcaster. The show is expected to go on air during the last quarter of the year. This 13-part series will explore the culture of urban exploration. It will go into abandoned structures, tunnels, bridges, towers, the hidden zones in American cities where people fear to walk into or at least have no idea that they exist.
Hoggard Films is in the process of assembling a team comprising of four individuals with plenty of flair, expertise and character. They will set out on various exotic urban adventures. At each stop they will meet members of the local urban exploration community, who will help them along their way.
The company has announced a casting call. People interested have to submit tapes of themselves by 13 February. The people being sought are
– An adventurous, dynamic, structural engineer –interest in urban exploration & archeology is a plus.
– A hip, buff female rock climber/extreme athlete
– A dynamic, young caver
– A quirky cutting-edge electronics whiz.
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.
