News Broadcasting
Sporting News names Bodenheimer most powerful in sports
MUMBAI: The list is out. ESPN/ABC Sports president is the most powerful person in sports. So says the Sporting News’ annual listing.
The president of ESPN and ABC Sports, George Bodenheimer was one of the 100 most influential people in sports.
Moving up three spots from last year’s rankings, Bodenheimer has been with ESPN for 23 years and was elevated to president in 1998. Last year’s most powerful person, New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner slipped to ninth place this year.
Bodenheimer was appointed as president of ABC last year. Under his guidance, ESPN became the first network to televise all four major team sports, says a company release.
According to Bodenheimer, “I am proud to accept this honour on behalf of everyone at ESPN and ABC Sports. The fact that The Sporting News, with its great history and tradition, has recognized the tremendous value our people create every day is a terrific way to begin the New Year.”
Close on the heels of the ESPN President is NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who was second on the list followed by Nike CEO Phil Knight, baseball commissioner Bud Selig and Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford, says the release.
The rest of the top 10 include NBA commissioner David Stern, IMG co-CEO Bob Kain, Nextel senior vice president of marketing Mark Schweitzer and Nextel senior director of sports and event marketing Michael Robichaud and CEO Fox chairman David Hill.
Besides Bodenheimer, ESPN had another representative on the charts, the executive vice president programming and production Mark Shapiro, who ranked 15 on the list.
While executives are aplenty on the list, athletes on the list include Yao Ming followed by Tiger Woods, LeBron James and Serena Williams. The Cowboys’ Bill Parcells was the only coach in the list’s first 40, adds the release.
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.
