News Broadcasting
Elaine Bedell completes BBC factual commissioning team
MUMBAI: Elaine Bedell who is currently the BBC’s independent executive, has been appointed commissioning editor for features and factual entertainment.
She completes the line up of the BBC factual commissioning team. BBC controller of factual commissioning Glenwyn Benson said, “Elaine has a wealth of knowledge, gained both inside and outside the BBC, together with a strong track record in delivering a range of quality, popular television. She has been extremely effective in building relationships with the creative community and will be tenacious in getting the best ideas on screen as quickly and effectively and possible.”
Bedell said, “My heart is in programmes and I’m incredibly excited about getting closer to the content again. This job gives me a wonderful opportunity to explore a variety of new ideas across four television channels, and beyond that into the multi media world.”
Bedell joins Emma Swain (Specialist Factual), Adam Kemp (Arts and Religion), Richard Klein (Documentaries) and Peter Horrocks (Current Affairs) in the new factual commissioning team working to Glenwyn Benson. All five commissioning editors will now commission programmes from both in-house and independent suppliers, and are part of the BBC’s new commissioning structure which is designed to speed up and simplify the commissioning process.
The BBC states that it will shortly make an announcement shortly about the BBC’s plans to take forward Bedell’s current role. In her role as BBC independent executive Bedell has been instrumental in helping to deliver a more effective working relationship with the independent sector, recently reinforced by the new terms of trade and the proposed introduction of the ‘window of creative competition’ (WOCC).
News Broadcasting
WITT Summit 2026 concludes in New Delhi
Babar Azam’s comical diving attempt goes viral as league introduces anti-dew measures.
MUMBAI: The WITT Summit just wrapped up with enough big ideas to fill a policy playbook because when India’s leaders, thinkers and icons gather under one roof, even the conversations hit sixes. The eighth edition of TV9 Network’s flagship What India Thinks Today (WITT) Summit 2026 concluded on Saturday after two days of dynamic discussions at its New Delhi venue. India’s largest multi-domain public policy and culture summit brought together political leaders, policymakers, sports icons, artists and technology innovators to examine the forces shaping contemporary India and its global standing.
Prime minister Narendra Modi delivered the keynote address on the theme “India and the World” for the third consecutive year. In a wide-ranging speech, he addressed the ongoing conflict in West Asia, calling for restraint and compassion while highlighting India’s continued development trajectory despite global turmoil.
The summit featured candid conversations with state leaders. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy articulated a people-first governance model and contrasted it with other development approaches. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav declared that Left-wing extremism had been effectively eliminated in his state and highlighted preparations for the upcoming Kumbh Mela. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defended his government’s record, citing the closure of 19 toll plazas and creation of the Sadak Suraksha Force. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed confidence in Congress prospects in Assam and addressed recent allegations against him.
On geopolitics and national security, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia outlined India’s ambition to become a builder of trusted digital infrastructure for the world, citing the rapid 5G rollout and village-level 4G connectivity.
Cricket received significant attention. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly praised player freedom and trust as hallmarks of great leadership and named MS Dhoni as the greatest captain due to his World Cup successes. India women’s team bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi credited the BCCI and Women’s Premier League for building a pipeline of world-class talent behind the team’s recent ODI World Cup triumph.
The summit also hosted the inaugural AI² Awards 2026, celebrating the convergence of human creativity and machine intelligence in storytelling and content creation. Poet and kathavachak Kumar Vishwas delivered a nuanced take on India’s concept of Dharma and criticised the recent arrest of an 80-year-old Shankaracharya. Veteran lyricist Sameer Anjaan and storyteller Neelesh Misra reflected on changing music trends and artistic responsibility in the wake of a recent controversy involving Nora Fatehi.
In a country where conversations often run as deep as the Ganges, the WITT Summit proved once again that when leaders, thinkers and storytellers come together, the real winner is public discourse lively, layered and refreshingly unafraid to tackle the big questions shaping India’s tomorrow.
