News Broadcasting
FremantleMedia promotes Olivier Gers
MUMBAI: FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW), the licensing division of FremantleMedia announced the promotion of Olivier Gers to FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas executive vice president, as part of the continuing evolution of its ancillary rights business in the US.
In this newly created position, Gers will be responsible for all ancillary rights activities for the Americas (including North America and Latin America) including interactive, consumer products, telephony, live entertainment and sponsorship. Gers was promoted to this position from his current role of senior vice president, licensing and will continue to report to FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide CEO Simon Spalding.
Spalding said, “This is an extremely exciting time for us in the US and Olivier’s promotion marks the growing importance of this market for the division and the further opportunities offered by the broader territory. Olivier has made a significant impact on the growth of the business and I am confident that, with his great talent and experience, he and his team will be able to build upon FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide’s existing reputation and success and further strengthen our position as leading ancillary rights experts in the region.”
Prior to joining FremantleMedia, Gers founded and led two different start-ups. The first, Odaddy.Com, was a website that put parenting in ‘guy-speak’ and provided the first ever online community for fathers. Gers also founded and set up Fulcrum Group, a consultancy offering opportunity assessment, strategic repositioning and interim management services to overseas companies looking to increase their presence in North America. Among his clients were BBC Worldwide Americas, Broadway Video and the French online sports venture, Sport4fun SA.
From 1995 to 2000 Gers served as Vice President, Strategic Planning and Business Manager for the internet, entertainment and novelty divisions of Golden Books Family Entertainment. Under his direction these divisions became the company’s most profitable business areas, generating more than $50 million in revenue.
In addition, Gers revitalised some of the company’s most popular yet under-utilised properties, including Pat the Bunny and Poky Little Puppy, by beefing up merchandising, licensing, video and music.
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.
