News Broadcasting
ESS-InCable parleys to continue Friday
MUMBAI: There is still no agreement in place between Hinduja Group MSO InCableNet and ESPN Star Sports regarding the new annual contract for the year 2004 – effective from 1 January. But the day ended with a significantly higher chance of a deal being thrashed out on the morrow than when it began.
ESS affiliate sales VP Srichand Iyengar said agreement had been reached with InCable most issues but a sticking point still remained over the demand by the sports broadcaster for payment guarantees. While the details of the payment terms were not spelt out it would appear that ESS is seeking either bank guarantees or letters of credit that could be encashed in the event of payments not coming through.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com late in the evening, InCable officials expressed confidence that a deal would be reached when the talks resume tomorrow.
If however, the talks should fail, then the switch-off this time round will be quite different from earlier ones in that it will cover the whole country wherever InCable has a presence rather than Mumbai alone. This is because the discussions that are going on at present are aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement that is applicable across the country.
If no deal is reached, InCable subscribers in Mumbai, Delhi, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Indore, Nagpur, Hyderabad and some other centres will be hard hit.
Deal or no deal, it appears highly unlikely that the first match of the triangular One-Day cricket series featuring hosts Australia, India and Zimbabwe, which takes place tomorrow, will be affected.
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.
