News Broadcasting
Subhash Chandra cos diversify into infra biz
NEW DELHI: After having made a mark in the media and entertainment industry, media baron Subhash Chandra is now diversifying into infrastructure.
The Chandra promoted Rs 35 billion Essel Group has made a bid for modernization of Delhi and Mumbai airports. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had recently sought an expression of interest from parties concerned.
When contacted Ashish Kaul, vice-president, Corporate Brand Development Essel Group, confirmed the development and said, “The Essel Group has submitted an expression of interest to the AAI through our group company Pan India Paryatan Limited.
Pan Indian Paryatan manages the largest and the popular theme parks under the brand name of Essel World and Water Kingdom. We are partnering with the TAV Group of Turkey for this, Kaul said. The TAV group operates the Istanbul, Ankara and Tehran international airports.
When asked about this diversification into infrastructure management, Kaul said,” Essel Group has been associated with diverse businesses and we have been looking at diversifying and developing the theme parks with international recreational facilities and with the objective of developing India as one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the world.
This is the first phase of the process of awarding this major contract, which has opened with nine other interested companies submitting an expression of interest as a prerequisite to graduate to the second stage where these pre- qualified companies will be privy to all the details of the scope of work and financials.
Essel group has a vast range of national and global business interest, encompassing media programming, broadcasting and distribution, packaging, entertainment, telecom and trading, having close synergies with ventures active in the areas of content distribution/ reach and infrastructure/ logistics.
Some of the companies that Essel Group promotes are Zee Telefilms Limited, Essel Propack, Pan India Paryatan, Dish TV, Asian Sky Shop, Agrani Group.
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.
