News Broadcasting
Hallmark, Comcast sign agreement for carriage
GREENWOOD VILLAGE: 11/05/2003 — Hallmark Channel, and Comcast Cable announced on 5 November that they had reached an agreement providing for additional carriage opportunities for the family-friendly entertainment channel on Comcast systems.
Hallmark Channel is owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Since its launch in August of 2001, Hallmark Channel ratings have grown 150 per cent in Total Day and 40 per cent in Prime Time, while Total Day and Prime Time HH impressions have grown 247 per cent and 104 per cent, respectively. In addition, original production on the network in 2003 has delivered six of the top 30 original premieres on basic cable.
“Over the past year, in particular, customer acceptance of Hallmark Channel’s unique value proposition has resulted in our top ratings and household delivery growth,” said Crown Media Holdings, Inc., and Hallmark Channel COO and executive VP Paul A. FitzPatrick. “Our distribution and advertising sales performance — at both the national and local level — is clearly resonating with all of our customers, including subscribers and local advertisers. We are delighted to have the support of an industry leader like Comcast, and look forward to building upon our relationship with them,” he added.
Added Comcast Vice President of Programming Jennifer Gaiski, “Hallmark Channel offers quality, relevant, and contemporary programming that adds value to our service. We’re pleased to work with Hallmark Channel to bring its distinguished programs to our customers.”
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.
