News Broadcasting
ESS acquires NBA telecast rights till 2006
SINGAPORE: ESPN Star Sports, has announced that it has acquired live cable and satellite broadcast rights to NBA for the next four consecutive seasons, the first of which began last week.
The channels will carry two live games a week during the regular season, the star-studded All-Star Weekend and three live games per week during playoffs. In addition ESPN will carry the entire Western Conference finals of this season as well as the NBA Finals. This agreement covers India, most of Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea. The NBA is also available in China on Star Sports. In the Philippines, there will be two live NBA playoff games each week through the first two rounds of the playoffs.
An official release informs that with more Asians playing basketball in the NBA, specifically Chinese players, NBA action is gaining ground in Asia. With Mainland Chinese players Wang Zhizhi of the LA Clippers, Mengke Bateer of the San Antonio Spurs, and most recently, top draft pick Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets set to make waves in the NBA, the fan base in the region is expected to expand considerably as more and more Asians get into the game.
The NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers, with superstars Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, will be looking for a fourth consecutive Championship title, while Eastern Conference Champion New Jersey Nets led by Jason Kidd and Chris Webber’s Sacramento Kings will be among a host of teams looking to dethrone them.
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.
