News Broadcasting
ESS switches off InCableNet in Mumbai
MUMBAI: It’s just not cricket. Just as subscribers of Hinduja Group MSO InCableNet were warming up to the One-Day cricket contest going on between India’s “Men in Blue” and the mighty Aussies, their screens went blank.
ESPN Star Sports switched off its signals to InCable around an hour ago after talks between the two parties finally broke down over the issue of payment.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, an InCable spokesperson said that while all the terms were agreed upon, including an increased declaration in subscription base, the broadcaster was “making unreasonable demands” over the monthly payouts. “Major advances were being asked for which are unheard of in the industry. All the other terms were agreed upon by us. It was at the monthly payout module stage where the talks broke down. The switch-off will only affect Mumbai,” the spokesperson added. An ESS spokesperson also confirmed that as of now, the switch-off only affected Mumbai.
The situation last evening was quite different when , InCable officials had expressed confidence that a deal would be reached when talks resumed this morning. ESS affiliate sales VP Srichand Iyengar had said that while an agreement had been reached with InCable on most issues a sticking point still remained over the demand by the sports broadcaster for payment guarantees. It appeared that ESS was seeking either bank guarantees or letters of credit that could be encashed in the event of payments not coming through.
Even while only Mumbai is affected as of now, there is still the possibility that it may spread to all centres in the country where InCable has a presence. This is because the discussions that were going on were aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement applicable across the country.
Since no deal has been reached, InCable subscribers in other centres like Delhi, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Indore, Nagpur, Hyderabad, etc might well be affected in due course.
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.
