News Broadcasting
Prasar Bharati revenues take a dip in 2001-2002
NEW DELHI: The public broadcaster’s gross commercial revenues have taken a beating this year.
In a reply to a query in the Upper House of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj today disclosed that Prasar Bharati’s gross commercial revenues for 2001-2002 had slipped to Rs 6152.1 million from Rs 6375.1 million the earlier year.
The pubcaster, which had netted revenues of Rs 5971.9 million in 1999-2000, had registered an impressive growth last year, but has not been able to sustain the same this fiscal.
CABLE TV MARKET: On whether the Prasar Bharati proposed to enter cable TV market, Swaraj said it had recently signed a memorandum of understanding with MTNL for cooperation in exploring new business opportunities and utilisation of the fibre optic network for carriage of Doordarshan services.
PLAN TO REGULATE CABLE AND TV PROGRAMMES: On the government’s proposal to regulate cable and television programmes, the minister said that the government had constituted an inter-ministerial committee to go into specific complaints regarding any programme not being in conformity with the prescribed programme code.
She said the committee would consist of officials from the I&B ministry, home, defence, external affairs and law. On cases that had been taken cognisance of by the Press Council, Swaraj said the media watchdog had during the period from 1 April 1998 to March 31, 2001 examined 2,452 complaints and upheld 352 of them.
FILM FINANCE: She also said that under the government’s new plans, the Reserve Bank of India as well as public sector banks may soon finance films launched by producers with a good track record, subject to certain conditions. Under the scheme, Swaraj said producers would be required to finance 25 per cent of the project cost as promoters’ contribution and could also tie up with distributors to receive advances as is the usual practice.
She said bank advances would be to the tune of 35 to 40 per cent and this could be increased to 50 per cent on merits under the new guidelines.
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.
