News Broadcasting
Fox turns match maker
MUMBAI: Fox Television Network, that has broken ground in the past with reality shows like Temptation Island (voted off air by Indian viewers) and Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire, now has its sights set on a show that seeks to make matches on the telly.
While in India, Sony Entertainment Television’s attempt to fix marriages with a Kahin Naa Kahin Koi Hai fell flat, with production house UTV obliged to stop shooting after the first phase, the Rupert Murdoch owned Fox has apparently decided this is what America needs.
According to a Reuters report, the network is developing Married by America , a weekly reality series that sets participants up with arranged marriages. The American viewing public will play matchmaker, voting on which couples will get engaged.
Married by America, is scheduled to go on air by early 2003. The network will search across the US for people tired of trying to find a suitable date and are open to the idea of having a marriage arranged for them,
In the show, both the man and the woman will be unaware of each other’s identities, balancing the scales of power between them. However they will have at least a few weeks to know one another before taking the final plunge.
The show starts with four to five people who want to get hitched being chosen. A larger group of men and women are then chosen, who will act as choices for the first group. This happens in the first episode.
The next episode sees members of the second group being questioned about their background, personality by family members and friends of people in the first group. Two finalists are chosen and then viewers have to cast their vote as to which of the two finalists should hook up with their potential mates. The finale will have the couples announcing whether they will go ahead or call the whole thing off.
This is not the only reality theme concept out there at the moment in the US. ABC also plans a show which will see members of a family squabbling to win riches of a wealthy benefactor, CBS is said to be developing a real-life version of The Beverly Hillbillies.
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.
