News Broadcasting
Fremantlemedia looks to put a twist on romance
MUMBAI: Television format owner and creator Fremantle Media North America (FMNA), which produces American Idol for Fox, America’s Got Talent for NBC and The Price Is Right for CBS, has inked a one-year, first-look deal with best-selling novelist, Jackie Collins.
As part of the deal, Collins will work with FMNA’s scripted division to create new romantic television dramas based on both original ideas and existing novels.
FMNA CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz says, “This partnership is the perfect creative marriage. We are excited to work with a literary legend whose ingenious ideas match our expertise in developing and producing original programming.”
Collins says, “I am delighted to be in business with Fremantle. They are a forward-thinking, extremely productive and innovative company with a great creative spirit and a fine team to back everything up.”
In addition to this new deal, Collins will also release her 25th book entitled Drop Dead Beautiful: The Continuing Adventures of Lucky Santangelo. This is the fifth book in the Santangelo series, which will be published by St. Martin’s Press in July. Lucky/Chances, starring Nicollette Sheridan, and Lady Boss, starring Kim Delaney, were turned into two very successful, highly-rated miniseries for NBC, both written and executive produced by Collins herself.
Collins started writing as a teenager, creating steamy stories her schoolmates paid to devour. Her first book, The World is Full of Married Men became a sensational best-seller with its open sexuality and honest depiction of the gender double standard. Eight best-selling novels later, Collins wrote the international sensation Hollywood Wives,which later became one of ABC’s highest-rated miniseries, produced by Aaron Spelling and starring Anthony Hopkins and Candice Bergen.
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.
