News Broadcasting
‘Lagaan’ takes Sony into Top 10
MUMBAI: There appear to be only two things that can make any sort of impression on the stranglehold that Star Plus has on the ratings – cricket and movies. For SET India, it was the Aamir Khan film Lagaan that brought some Diwali cheer for the channel with a top 10 ratings placing after a long gap.
The critically acclaimed Bollywood blockbuster aired on SET on 27 October and has come in at exactly Number 10 on the charts behind perennial toppers Kyunki…, Kahaani… and Kasauti Zindagi Kay. A point to note though is that with a total air time of five hours (7 pm to 12 midnight) TAM ratings of 7.6 has certainly proved a windfall for the channel. The ratings are for the 4+ TG across all markets for the week from 27 October to 02 November.
According to SET executive V-P Sunil Lulla, Lagaan’s 10.24 TVR for the key north, west and east territories makes it the highest rated film of the last 15 months on any C&S channel in both absolute and relative terms. Lagaan’s is not the highest TVRs the channel has garnered for a film in the not too recent past though. That credit goes to the patriotism-laced multi-starrer Border, which aired on the channel some two years ago. Referring to Border, Lulla said the market is far more complex today and therefore it was not possible to compare the performance of the two movies.
On the “Lagaan Maaf Contest”, a promotional campaign developed around the movie, Lulla said over 10,000 entries had been received till the time of the closing of the competition last Saturday.
In the contest, eleven winners selected through a random draw will get reimbursed their previous year’s income tax up-to-a maximum of Rs 50,000.
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.
