News Broadcasting
Trai may sue Sony Discovery & Zee Turner
NEW DELHI: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is contemplating legal action against One Alliance and Zee Turner for non-compliance of the regulator’s separate directives on restoring signals to cable operators.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com today evening, a senior Trai official admitted that taking legal action in a court of law is an option, which is “being studied” at the moment.
This has been necessitated as Trai cannot penalise in any way anybody for non-compliance of a directive of the regulator. “Because we cannot impose a fine or penalise errant parties, we have to seek help from courts,” the official said, clarifying that, however, legal succour has to come from courts other than a high court as it does not handle such cases.
Since Trai would have to move a court of law in the places where the incidents of disconnections have taken place — in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh and Kerala — it is expected to be a lower court.
“We also cannot put a time frame on taking up this legal option as certain internal procedures will have to be completed,” the Trai official said.
When contacted, SET Discovery president Shantanu Aditya declined to comment on the issue. Zee Turner was not available for comments.
While One Alliance, a joint venture between Sony and Discovery India, did not restore bouquet signals to a cable operator in Allahabad despite directions from Trai to do so, Zee Turner had moved TDSAT against Kerala-based MSO, Asianet. In both the cases signals have been blocked by the distributors owing to alleged outstanding dues.
In Zee Turner’s case, though TDSAT is hearing the disputed case, it has not stayed the Trai directive on restoration of signals, which has emboldened the regulator to propose legal cases against One Alliance and Zee Turner.
One Alliance has rushed to the Delhi high court challenging TRAI’s authority over financial matters.
Meanwhile, Trai has extended the transition period for another 60 days under Clause 3.7 of the Telecommunication (Broadcasting & Cable) Services Interconnection Regulations, 2004, which had been had been issued on 10 December, 2004. This has been done as a proposal had been received by Trai to this effect.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
