News Broadcasting
‘South Park’ set to take off as a weekday strip in Fall 2005
MUMBAI: Come Fall 2005, and Tribune Entertainment’s South Park, the much appreciated US sitcom will premiere in broadcast syndication as a weekday strip.
The company has announced that the currently off-cable sitcom strip has been cleared for syndication in 85 per cent of the US including 48 of the top 50 markets. The sitcom from Comedy Central South Park will be carried on stations from the Viacom, Tribune, Weigel, Belo, Scripps-Howard, Cox, Clear Channel, Raycom, Sinclair and Meredith broadcast groups. Stations clearing the program in the top five markets include WPIX/New York, KCAL/Los Angeles, WCIU/Chicago, WPSG/Philadelphia and KBHK/San Francisco. The show is being offered on a cash plus 90-second barter basis.
Tribune Entertainment EVP Domestic & Cable Sales Steve Mulderrig states, “We’re thrilled with the enthusiastic response from stations toward ‘South Park.’ The local DMA Market numbers are so competitive that stations immediately see the value in adding this smart and edgy show to their sitcom lineups.”
Tribune Entertainment is distributing South Park under an exclusive deal with Debmar Studios and Mercury Entertainment. The Mort Marcus, president of Debmar Studios, acquired the domestic syndication rights from Comedy Central and together with Ira Bernstein of Mercury Entertainment, cleared over 50 per cent of the country. Tribune Entertainment will also oversee barter ad sales under the agreement.
South Park created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, has aired on Comedy Central for seven seasons. Tribune Entertainment, the Los Angeles-based entertainment division of Tribune Company Entertainment has entered into a variety of distribution, production, and ad sales relationships with such major partners as DreamWorks SKG, FremantleMedia North America, Hearst Entertainment, New Line Television, and Universal Domestic Television.
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.
