News Broadcasting
Govt. not to alter existing FDI norms for media sector
NEW DELHI: The present government will not roll back any foreign investment norms in the media sector, including those changes brought about by the previous Bharatiya Janata party-led government.
Asked whether the present government is contemplating revisiting certain media guidelines, especially in the light of the International Herald Tribune case, a senior information and broadcasting ministry official said, “Why should we revisit (media) rules and guidelines?”
Allaying fears on investment norms in the media sector becoming more stringent, the official said there was no need for that. “After all, those norms (like 26 per cent foreign investment being allowed in the print medium) have been debated. There would be no rollback.”
However, the official added that the government also would not rush into accepting or introducing new norms for those sectors where foreign investments are not allowed in the media. This was said in relation to a query on whether the government would allow foreign investment in private FM radio ventures too.
Meanwhile, the official clarified that neither I&B minister Jaipal
Reddy nor the ministry has any proposal to levy a cess on radio and TV sets sold in the country to generate additional funds for pubcasters, Doordarshan and All India Radio.
“What the minister said was that amongst the many options that are there to increase revenue for the pubcaster, cess is one of them. Such academic discussions do not mean that the government would actually go ahead and do it, though in the UK, BBC is partly like this,” the official elaborated.
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.
