News Broadcasting
Study sheds light on US TV viewing habits
MUMBAI: Americans love TV. We all know that. But a study commissioned by the US labour department shows us how desperately they have become addicted to TV. The survey revealed that folks in Bush country spent half of their leisure time of 5.1 hours daily staying glued to the idiot box.
What’s more Americans are also spending a lot of time on their backs in bed – fast asleep. The survey states that the average American spent 8.6 hours a day sleeping in 2003.
And what about work? Lo behold, Americans work for only 3.7 hours daily.
Is there a lesson that a large part of the populace in Asia – which slogs from morning to evening but yet has a lower standard of living- has to learn from these stats ? Does watching TV and sleeping a lot lead to riches like in a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale? Of course not, that’s meant to be a joke.
The US study included everyone from working parents with almost no free time to retirees and teenagers. This helps explain why this average day does not reflect anyone’s actual day.
Not surprisingly working parents aged 25-54 had just 2.6 hours to spend on leisure.The telephone survey covered 21,000 people over the age of 15 and was conducted throughout 2003.
Respondents were asked to recount 24 hours of activity from the previous day. When not watching the idot box the typical American spent 41 minutes socialising, 22 minutes reading, 20 minutes on sports or recreation, 20 minutes relaxing and thinking and 17 minutes playing games often on the computer.
American men typically had more leisure than women (can we see some I-told-you scowls on the faces of readers who are women). Men lazed around for 5.4 hours as compared to women’s 4.8 hours.One thing that has to be borne in mind is that the study only considered respondents’ primary activity. For instance if a person watched television while ironing clothes or eating dinner, only one activity was counted.
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.
