News Broadcasting
Sony ships new ‘American Idol’ music creation software
MUMBAI: Sony Media Software, a provider of music creation programs for the PC and FremantleMedia licensing worldwide, the licensing division of FremantleMedia, international creators and producers of programmed brands in the world, have announced the availability of American Idol Jam Trax and American Idol Extreme Music Creator software, two new applications that let users create music just like the stars of American Idol.
American Idol Jam Trax software is an easy- to-use music creation and recording software application that comes with over six hundred music loops and samples which can be mixed together to build original songs. Users can lay down an instrumental background track, plug in a microphone and record their vocals live. Additionally, the software can change the tempo and key of a song and can even email the finished results to others right from within the program and is available at a price of $19.95, asserts an official release.
American Idol Extreme Music Creator software offers more advanced music- making features for aspiring musicians and singers who are serious about the chance at their turn as America’s next superstar. Users can record their vocals, remix their own favorite songs or burn them to a CD to share with others.
The software includes hundreds of royalty-free music loops and samples in multiple genres making the creative possibilities endless. Extreme Music Creator also comes with a free Randy Jackson’s Producer’s Pack bonus disc, providing over 250 additional pop music loops and samples. With up to six prearranged projects, users can simply lay down their vocals and create a song and is available at a price of $49.95.
Music producer and one of the judges on American Idol Randy Jackson said, “This software is the bomb, working with American Idol Extreme Music Creator software is a great way for anyone to discover their hidden musical talents. With my producer’s pack you can access even more loops that will help you create your own tracks and remix your favorite songs. Then you can share your new music creations with the world.”
American Idol Jam Trax and American Idol Extreme Music Creator software (which includes the bonus Randy Jackson’s Producer’s Pack) are available at Best Buy, Circuit City, Target, Office Depot, Amazon.com and other major retail stores nationwide.
Future editions of the Randy Jackson’s Producer’s Packs, add-on loops and music samples for American Idol Extreme Music Creator software, will hit the shelves before the holidays for a price of $24.95, adds the release.
News Broadcasting
News TV viewership jumps 33 per cent as West Asia war draws audiences
BARC Week 8 data shows news share rising to 8 per cent despite T20 World Cup
NEW DELHI:Â Even as individual television news channel ratings remain under a temporary pause, the genre itself is seeing a clear surge in audience attention.
According to the latest data from Broadcast Audience Research Council India, television news recorded a 33 per cent jump in genre share in Week 8 of 2026, covering February 28 to March 6.
The news genre accounted for 8 per cent of total television viewership during the week, up from 6 per cent the previous week. The spike in attention coincided with escalating geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which have kept global headlines firmly fixed on West Asia.
The rise is notable because it came at a time when cricket was dominating television screens. The high-stakes stages of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, including the Super 8 fixtures and semi-finals, were being broadcast during the same period.
Despite the cricket frenzy, viewers appeared to be toggling between sport and global affairs, boosting the overall share of news programming.
The surge in genre share comes even as the government has enforced a one-month pause on publishing ratings for individual news channels. The move followed regulatory scrutiny of the television ratings ecosystem.
While channel-level rankings remain temporarily out of sight, the genre-level data suggests that when global tensions escalate, audiences continue to turn to television news for real-time updates.
