News Broadcasting
Rajesh Pant takes charge as Percept CEO
Take Percept Advertising into the Top Ten in the next five years. That is the brief that former Sony Entertainment No: 2 and new CEO Rajesh Pant, who took charge yesterday, has set for himself.
Pant, who was one of the high-profile departures from the SET stable in last year’s reorganisation, says he has been given a total free hand by Percept Advertising’s promoters Harindra and Shailendra Singh. Pant’s initial concentration will be on building and developing internal resources and that means expanding the team that is in place at Percept. With capitalised billings of Rs 1000 million currently, he aims to take it to Rs 5000 million in the next five years.
As for former CEO Navroze Dhondy’s equation in the new dispensation, Pant has been quoted as saying Dhondy would assume a more marketing related function.
Pant, who joined SET from Citicorp in Dubai, was last year moved to take charge of the freshly formed SET Pictures division after the company decided to enter the field of film production and distribution. Pant’s initial projects included international distribution of the film Mission Kashmir and Lagaan.
One place where Pant’s experience at SET will in all likelihood be utilised is in the aggressive plans that Sahara TV has for 2002. Parent company Sahara India is one of Percept’s key clients.
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.
