News Broadcasting
Enter, Rajdeep the entrepreneur!
MUMBAI: NDTV managing editor Rajdeep Sardesai is all set to turn into an entrepreneur. A proposed start-up, led by him, has already been assured of funding by investors.
Broadcast industry sources indicate that after Sardesai finally parts ways with NDTV — a difficult and emotional decision for him still — a new company would be set up, which would deal with various aspects of TV broadcasting, including generating and managing content for a new news channel.
This new venture is also likely to have the services of NDTV CFO Sameer Manchanda, who, according to the sources, is also poised to exit with Sardesai after a long stint.
Though official confirmation is not available, a clutch of investors is likely to back Sardesai. According to the stock market buzz, Television Eighteen Ltd, reportedly, might be one of the strategic investors. The shareholding pattern amongst various investors is yet to be worked out and finalised.
It is also being rumoured that over a longer period of time this start-up might bring into India other TV channels like MSNBC. Various companies related to this development were not available for comments.
Interestingly, news about Sardesai’s exit from NDTV started floating around the stock markets few days back and on Wednesday, TV-18 informed the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) that it has decided to seek shareholders’ nod for raising funds, $50 million, from international markets for funding its expansion plans. The mode of raising the money has not been discussed and it could be through the issue of debt instruments or equity-backed instruments or even a mix of the two.
At present, TV-18 runs two channels in India, the English CNBC-TV 18 and the Hindi consumer channel Awaaz. Through another company (headquartered abroad and promoted by Raghav Bahl), South Asia World, a channel catering to the Indian diaspora, is beamed to the UK and the US. There are talks of SAW being brought to India too.
On the other hand, NDTV, which turned a broadcaster in 2003 April, runs three channels, NDTV 24×7, NDTV India in Hindi and the bi-lingual business news channel NDTV Profit. The TV-18 and NDTV scrips closed on the Bombay Stock Exchange on 13 April at Rs 227.40 and Rs. 1833.10, respectively.
According to information available, the TV industry is likely to see several high profile movements with news channels, including newly-launched ones like Channel 7 from the Jagran group, on a poaching spree.
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.
