GECs
NGC India premiers The Blackout
MUMBAI: The thought of a complete blackout can give you goose bumps. But tonight at 9:00 pm, you can experience that as National Geographic Channel rolls out its two-hour, gripping new feature film -The Blackout. The film envisions the story of a national power failure in USA caused by a cyber-attack. Gritty, visceral and completely immersive, the drama exposes just how vulnerable the modern day reliance on technology has made our urban populations, and the hellish realities of a 10-day blackout.
Just imagine how difficult life would be if you can’t use the ATM, or don’t get warm water for your daily showers, there’s no way to connect to the internet. We often don’t even think that these things can happen, but in the case of a blackout, this can be a reality. The film explores all these ideas and much more.
The Blackout combines startling user-generated footage from real blackouts in New York & San Diego as well as when disasters such as Hurricane Sandy struck – all of this intercut with scripted, dramatic footage shot in feature-film style, resulting in a terrifyingly real feeling that this disaster could very likely be yours.
“It isn’t science fiction anymore. Our team of researchers interviewed leading experts in various fields – cyber security, search and rescue, emergency medicine, sociology, engineering and more. This film is obviously a drama, but we were determined to be as informed as possible, and we spent countless hours trying to get it right. We needed to know everything that would be affected in a 10-day nationwide blackout … and that turned out to be basically everything,” said Raw Television director Jonathan Rudd. Raw Television is a multi-award winning production company behind the hit series Banged Up Abroad and the acclaimed feature documentary, The Imposter.
Talking about the relevance of the path-breaking concept behind this film, National Geographic & FOX International Channels VP Marketing Debarpita Banerjee said, “While The Blackout is based on a cyber-attack that strikes USA and causes a complete power wipe-out hence, the truth is that any city or nation is just as susceptible to a crisis of this nature. In India, electricity and power issues are as acute as they could get. Add to that the fact that electrical back-up for our every need is something we take for granted. Poised at a time of technological advancement, such as this, if our power grids were to fail at a macro level, our lives would get paralysed, and we would be left feeling crippled in a very significant way. The Blackout gives the thinking viewer a subject to chew on, and tips to combat this very real ordeal.”
So why don’t you get ready and open up your eyes for a similar calamity that might happen!
GECs
Pocket FM partners with Indian Open Pickleball 2026
Audio platform joins forces with major tournament to engage young fans.
MUMBAI: Pocket FM just served up a perfect partnership because when audio storytelling meets pickleball’s fast-paced rallies, even the sidelines start listening. Pocket FM, the world’s largest audio series platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Indian Open 2026, one of India’s biggest pickleball tournaments organised by Global Sports in Hyderabad in association with Pickl’Out and Crosscourts Sports Club.
The collaboration brings Pocket FM’s immersive storytelling to one of the fastest-growing emerging sports in India. Pickleball, known for its accessibility, energy and strong community appeal, is rapidly attracting younger, digitally savvy audiences making it an ideal platform for Pocket FM to deepen its cultural relevance.
Under the partnership, Pocket FM will enjoy extensive on-ground and digital visibility throughout the tournament, which begins on 1 April 2026. This includes centre court branding, venue-wide presence, presenting rights for select matches, player lounge branding, team jersey integration, and strong integration across live streaming and social media.
Pocket FM, SVP and global head for brand marketing and partnerships Vineet Singh said, “Pickleball is building a strong connection with young and engaged audiences in India. This partnership allows us to connect with people in a meaningful way through strong on-ground presence and digital visibility.”
Global Sports and Indian Open 2026, founder Hemal Jain added, “Partnering with Pocket FM adds an exciting new dimension to the experience. As a brand that has built deep resonance with young audiences, Pocket FM is a strong fit for the energy and ambition of this tournament.”
The move reflects Pocket FM’s continued strategy of aligning with emerging passion points and building deeper engagement with communities driven by competition and shared experiences.
In a country where sports and stories often collide, Pocket FM isn’t just sponsoring a tournament, it’s turning every rally into a narrative, proving that the best audio moments sometimes happen when the paddle meets the ball.
