News Broadcasting
NDS, MagnaQuest forge alliance
HYDERABAD: News Corp’s NDS has announced a strategic partnership with MagnaQuest, a leading customer care and billing solutions provider for the pay-TV and convergence industry headquartered in Hyderabad.
An official release informs that the companies have completed integration of the NDS VideoGuard conditional access with MagnaQuest’s MQSubscribe customer care and billing solution. The integrated solutions create a valuable opportunity for operators to maximise their revenue and reduce churn.
The robust feature set of VideoGuard that enables operators to package content in a variety of ways, in conjunction with MQSubscribe’s ability to bill flexibly for each such option can be a winning deployment option. NDS and MagnaQuest will also co-operate for joint sales and marketing activities in the Asia Pacific region, states the release.
NDS, Asia Pacific VP and GM Sue Taylor said, “NDS is committed to providing open end-to-end solutions that ensure faster and easier integration for our customers. We selected MagnaQuest as a partner because the India-specific features of MQSubscribe make it uniquely suited to the Indian cable TV market.”
MagnaQuest VP (Sales and Marketing) A. N. Vasan said, “NDS and MagnaQuest have ambitious aspirations to serve the customers with an unbeatable value proposition. Both companies have developed world-leading technology, and have deep domain and geographical knowledge of the markets, but also continually strive to improve it with aggressive product roadmaps and a strong R&D team. Together we offer an end-to-end pay-TV solution with a very compelling value proposition.”
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
