News Broadcasting
In China, Star takes to the wireless
MUMBAI: We really believe in this market and to help expand the pie, all players should work together. A point made by Star Group CEO Michelle Guthrie in an address at the recently concluded Ficci Frames 2004.
Well, a clear route in that pie expansion exercise is via wireless. Though leveraging wireless is still to wing its way into Star India’s operations in any significant way, expect some major initiatives on that score from India’s lead broadcaster sooner rather than later.
According to Star Group senior V-P Mani Rao, Rupert Murdoch’s Asian broadcast arm has identified four clear revenue stream going forward – subscription, advertising, syndication and wireless.
In China in particular, utilising wireless has proved a strong incremental revenue stream as well as helped build stronger links to Star’s community of viewers, says Rao. The high cell phone penetration in China has been a big factor in its quick take-off no doubt.
Star Group V-P corporate affairs and publicity Jannie Poon outlined to indiantelevision.com how well wireless has worked for Star in China. It has been less than a year (June 2003) since launch, and what Star China is doing is to leverage the exclusive and popular content on its Mandarin language channels – general entertainment Xing Kong and Channel [V].
The wireless services are of two kinds – subscription and non-subscription based. And the numbers are impressive.
For the subscription based service, Star charges about $1 per month per subscriber. Currently there are about 200,000 monthly subscription-based members.
An example of how it works is the popular dating cum reality show Love Factory. Subscribers to Love Factory wireless services get love horoscopes, dating tips and dating games, among other things as download options. They also get to be part of Love Factory clubs in which members are hooked up through wireless.
An example of non-subscription based services was the Channel [V] Chinese Music Awards, wherein Star received more than 2 million SMS for voting of best songs, best female singer, etc of the year, says Poon.
The potential of wireless is huge, says Rao. How it rolls out on Star in India will of course be closely watched.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Kolkata Town Hall on Hooghly River
‘Bhalobasa Bengal Inspiring Bharat’ event on April 20 brings cultural icons, trailblazing women and leaders aboard a cruise to celebrate Bengal’s enduring influence.
MUMBAI: Bengal is about to make fresh waves on the Hooghly and this time the current is pure conversation. CNN-News18 is taking its iconic Town Hall format to the waters of the iconic Hooghly River on 20 April 2026 with a special edition titled ‘Bhalobasa Bengal – Inspiring Bharat’. The floating event will celebrate the state’s rich cultural legacy and how its ideas, creativity and spirit continue to shape the rest of the country.
The unique riverside setting draws on Bengal’s history as a cradle of reform, art and intellectual thought. The speaker line-up mirrors that diversity: cultural heavyweights Mithun Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar will share the stage with trailblazing “Devis” such as Tanya Sanyal (India’s first woman firefighter in aviation), Ipsita Chakraborty (Kolkata’s first woman bartender) and Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi (Nari Shakti awardee and marine pilot). Music will flow through the celebrated pianist-vocalist duo Sourendro and Soumyojit, while public life and governance will be represented by Smriti Irani, Leander Paes, Saira Shah Halim, Keya Ghosh, Rekha Patra, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director, Rahul Shivshankar, said the event honours voices that carry Bengal’s legacy forward. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that Bengal’s stories resonate far beyond its borders, especially as the state heads into polls.
From the first woman to battle flames in the skies to legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema, the gathering promises a rich mix of inspiration, courage and candid dialogue. In a city where culture has always flowed as freely as the river itself, CNN-News18 is turning the Hooghly into a floating forum for ideas that matter.
Tune in on 20 April on CNN-News18, CTV and YouTube to catch Bengal’s heartbeat in full flow.
