News Broadcasting
etc courts viewers with new genres
From music to alternative healing, etc seems determined to innovate in a bid to bring in the viewers.
Claiming supremacy among the current crop of music channels with statistics for the week ended 4 May (17 of the top 25 programmes on music channels during the week are from the etc stable, according to TAM), the channel is now diversifying into untrodden territory. Gagar Mein Sagar to commence telecast this Sunday at 1 pm, deals with various forms and aspects of alternate medicines and remedies.
Writer Kamini Khanna and spiritual healer and vaastu consultant Shankar Bable will anchor the show that deals with and explores popularly practised subjects like Feng Shui, Vaastu Shastra, Crystal Therapy, Medical Astrology, Pyramid Therapy, Acupressure, Tarot Card Reading, Signature analyses and Acupuncture. The programme will also educate the viewers about the significance and reality of Totka (casting spells), says the channel.
A film based show, On Air will tackle films scheduled for release, invite artistes and directors of the film on the show to talk about their experience and expectations from the film. The show takes off next Monday at 8.30 pm with superstar Amitabh Bachchan talking about his film Hum Kissi Se Kam Nahin.
etc’s third new show to begin in June belongs to a genre tried and tested on the channel. Sun n Dance Hour has one hour of non-stop remix songs from old and new films and music albums, to be telecast every Saturday at 8 pm with repeats on every Sunday at 10 am.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
