News Broadcasting
K Madhavan re-elected as IBDF president
Mumbai: The Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF), the apex body of television broadcasters and digital streaming platforms in the country, has re-elected The Walt Disney Company India and Star India country manager and president K Madhavan as its president for the second term after the 22nd annual general meeting of the company held on 22 October.
“I am humbled by the trust and faith IBDF members have reposed in me to lead the foundation for a second term,” said Madhavan. “We are at an interesting crossroad where the combination of consumer, regulatory and technology trends is remodelling the media landscape and ecosystem. I hope to continue working with the government, industry, and other stakeholders for accelerating the growth of the broadcast and digital media sector in the country.”
During the AGM, members of the foundation have re-elected the following members to the board of IBDF:
TV Today Network chairman Aroon Purie.
Prasar Bharati chief executive officer Shashi S Vempati.
Viacom18 managing director Rahul Joshi.
Star and Disney India president and head of network entertainment channels Kevin Vaz (representing Asianet Star Communications).
The appointment of Sun Network managing director R Mahesh Kumar as a director on the board under casual vacancy has also been ratified by the members of the foundation.
In the subsequent board meeting, the board also elected other office bearers as under:
IBDF vice president (news and current affairs) – India TV chairman Rajat Sharma
IBDF vice president (government and regulatory affairs) – Viacom18 managing director Rahul Joshi.
IBDF vice president (sectoral growth) – Prasar Bharati chief executive officer Shashi Vempati.
IBDF treasurer – Zee Entertainment president of content and international business Punit Misra.
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.
