News Broadcasting
INCableNet’s Vyas, Hathway’s Bhatia quit
MUMBAI: Talk about bad timing. A key executive each from Mumbai’s Big Two MSOs – INCableNet and Hathway – have put in their papers.
INCableNet COO Rajiv Vyas has resigned from his post as on 31 October, a company statement says.
“Mr Rajiv Vyas served the company for over two years. He has resigned for personal reasons. We wish him all the success in his endeavours,” the official release from the Hinduja Group company says.
The Star India-backed rival MSO Hathway Cable and Datacom has also seen a departure. Hathway vice-president Neeraj Bhatia resigned mid-week.
Spokespersons from both companies said no replacements have been identified at this point but would be announced in due course.
Vyas’ case in particular comes at an awkward time since he was the key pointperson who represented INCableNet in meetings with both broadcasters and government officials these last few months, in negotiations linked to the (non)rollout of conditional access in the metros of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
December is expected to be a high action month for the MSOs as India kicks off its tour Down Under and the industry is expecting ESPN Star Sports (ESS) to announce its annual rate hike at the time. ESS has exclusive broadcast rights for the series. If the events of last year are any indicator, the other pay broadcasters should also announce their new rate cards soon after.
Additionally, INCableNet has already announced it will implement CAS unilaterally in December, using various ‘carrot’ options for consumers, including pay-per-view services, interactive games and a large offering of up to 114 channels.
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.
