News Broadcasting
NDTV gets alive and kicking with new events vertical
MUMBAI: In a bold foray into the live entertainment business, New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) on Tuesday said its board has approved the launch of a new vertical titled NDTV Alive, aimed at capitalising on India’s booming events market. From ticketed spectacles to high-octane public experiences, the Adani-owned broadcaster is stepping beyond the newsroom and into the arena. The company announced this through a regulatory filing with the Bombay stock exchange earlier today.
To steer this fresh initiative, NDTV has brought in media veteran Rahul Kumar Shaw as chief experience officer. Shaw, who has clocked over three decades across heavyweights such as Star India, Zee Entertainment, SET India, and TV Today Network, joins with immediate effect and will also serve as senior management personnel.
NDTV Alive will focus on experiential formats, a strategic move the company claims will “diversify revenue” and solidify its entertainment footprint. Investments will vary depending on artist fees, production costs, marketing, ticketing, and insurance – but the ambition is unmistakable.
Shaw previously headed Stage AajTak, the experiential arm of TV Today, and is known for orchestrating immersive formats across TV, radio, and sport. A commerce graduate from Calcutta University, he is expected to bring his flair for content-meets-commerce to the new vertical.
While NDTV has not disclosed a fixed capital infusion, insiders say the venture signals a wider push under the Adani umbrella to reimagine legacy media assets for a more interactive age.
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.
