News Broadcasting
Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation holds 24 AGM in Delhi
Mumbai: 24 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF) was held in Delhi on 31 Oct 2023.
The following directors were re-elected to the board during the AGM:
1. K. Madhavan
2. Punit Misra
3. I. Venkat
4. Rajat Sharma
The other directors on the Board of Directors of IBDF are:
1. Rahul Joshi
2. Aroon Purie
3. N. P. Singh
4. Nitin Nadkarni
5. Punit Goenka
6. R. Mahesh Kumar
7. Gaurav Banerjee
The Office Bearers of the Foundation are:
1. K. Madhavan, President-IBDF
2. Rajat Sharma, Vice President, IBDF (News & Current Affairs)
3. Rahul Joshi, Vice President, IBDF (Govt. & Regulatory Affairs)
4. Punit Misra, Treasurer, IBDF
In the IBDF Board of Directors meeting that followed the AGM, John Brittas and Kevin Vaz were Co-opted to the Board.
IBDF also hosted a lunch in honour of Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Hon’ble Minister for Information & Broadcasting. Shri Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Shri Vikram Sahay, Joint Secretary (P&A), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting also joined the IBDF members on the said occasion.
Addressing the members during the AGM, IBDF president, K. Madhavan said, “despite the ongoing geo-political issues like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East due to the Israel-Hamas war and accompanying economic volatility, the Indian economy in general and the Media & Entertainment industry, in particular, have shown extreme resilience”.
He added that “India has firmly embarked on a digital transformation journey with 868 mn broadband users in India, and within a year of launch, 5G services have been rolled out across 97 per cent of Indian cities resulting in internet speeds going up by three times. Connected TV continues to grow with 90 per cent of TV sets sold in India being smart TVs. 2023 will be a defining year for the Indian M&E industry with digital ad revenue expected to surpass ad revenue on traditional media”.
Madhavan also spoke about the Linear TV penetration in the country and said “With 900 channels, Linear television continues to enjoy an unparalleled reach of 900 million viewers and is the largest media platform in India. Unlike in other developed markets, there is significant growth potential for Linear TV as one-third of households in India do not have access to television. It will require the collective might of the IBDF members to connect the left out 100mn households to our fold.”
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.
