News Broadcasting
UK govt in favour of BBC Worldwide sale
MUMBAI: The fate of BBC Worldwide hangs in the balance. While the Beeb is said to have decided against selling its commercial arm reports indicate that the British government is pressuring it to do so.
That is because the Blair government wants the BBC to partially finance the transition from analogue to a fully digitised Britain. It does not want the BBC to take the license fee route to foot the bill.
However the government added that the BBC was independent and it would not interfere in its decisions. The full cost of switching from analogue to digital is likely to run into hundreds of millions of pounds, according to internal estimates at the BBC.
A report in This Is London added that this would include upgrading transmission masts and a nationwide advertising campaign to inform consumers of the changes.
While the corporation will not shoulder the entire costs, which will be met by a consortium of broadcasters, transmission companies and retailers, its bill is likely to be considerable.
Another report in The Independent stated that instead of selling its commercial arm the BBC will look to double profits at BBC Worldwide. The situation was very different in September when the Beeb had invited bids from Time Warner, Disney and Germany’s Bertelsmann.
The Government wants the BBC to pay its share from selling BBC Worldwide rather than from licence fee income. The future of BBC Worldwide is currently under review. The government is keen that the British public not pay BBC’s bill through the licence fee.
Last year BBC Worldwide made a profit of ?37 million on sales of ?657 million. BBC Worldwide is not the only commercial arm of the BBC under scrutiny. The future of BBC Resources, the production facilities service, and BBC Broadcast, are also being considered as part of the commercial review that coincides with the review of the BBC’s next five-year charter starting in 2007.
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.
