News Broadcasting
Eisner out as Disney chairman, retains CEO title
MUMBAI: The Walt Disney company is in the news yet again. While last month it was in the limelight because of the unsolicited bid made by Comcast, this time round it is for different reasons altogether.
The company’s CEO and chairman Michael Eisner has been removed from the post of chairman at the company’s annual meeting which took place on 3 March. However Eisner retains his position as chief executive of the company. The board also unanimously elected former US senator George Mitchell as chairman.
The decision came after 43 per cent of shareholders withheld their votes from Eisner, who has been blamed by some for the lackluster performance of the media-entertainment powerhouse in recent years.
According to a media report, the vote sent shock waves through corporate America and marked the strongest such protest against an incumbent chief executive ever, signaling Disney’s concession was unlikely to satisfy shareholders campaigning for Eisner’s removal. Disney’s board said that while it recognised that some shareholders were calling for Eisner’s ouster, it was confident that the entertainment conglomerate’s financial results would validate its support of management and current strategy.
The Disney board was quoted in media reports saying that, “While making this change in governance, the board remains unanimous in its support of the company’s management team and of Michael Eisner, who will continue to serve as chief executive officer.”
One media report said that in the meeting, the board also said that Comcast’s takeover proposal was not in the best interest of the company and its shareholders. It also said it that it was open to looking at a “reasonable proposal.”
However it is believed that this speedy move probably won’t please Roy Disney and his supporters. The problem, according to Disney and fellow axed board member Stanley Gold, is that the current board was hand-picked by Eisner with the not-too-surprising result that they tended to rubber stamp his decisions. Hence an independent chairman was sought from outside.
Taking advantage of this sudden move and decision, Comcast had another go at bidding for the company which was however dismissed. So it looks like Disney is going to be in the news for a while now.
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.
