News Broadcasting
Viacom’s Spike TV gets into the ‘Wrestlemania’ spirit
MUMBAI: One of the biggest television events of the year, the World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) Wrestlemania XX tales place this year on 14 March. In India, the event will air on Ten Sports sometime in early April. In the US, Spike TV has firmed up plans to create buzz around the event.
It was 20 years ago that WWE chairman Vince Mcmahon conceived the pay per view event. At first the event struggled to find a television audience but gradually it became a home to classic matches featuring the likes of Andre The Giant, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan. The centerpieces of Spike TV’s tribute are the premieres of two original specials Wrestlemania’s Ten Greatest Matches Ever and 10 Things Every Guy Should Experience: WrestleMania XX.”
Hosted by wrestler Ric Flair, the greatest matches ever will unveil the ten greatest matches in the tournament’s history as voted on by the WWE superstars. The other special 10 Things Every Guy Should Experience features Raw fans squaring off against fans of the other show Smackdown in New York City. Up for grabs are a series of WWE-related prize packages and for ringside seats to the sold-out Wrestlemania XX event in Madison Square Garden.
10 Things will chronicle the finalists’ entire journey from wannabe contestant to being a VIP at the event. From scavenger hunts to trivia games to physical challenges, the two duos battle it out in a variety of ways during the week leading up to the event to see who is indeed most worthy of the hottest tickets in town.
The first network dedicated to men, Spike TV claims to be available in 87 million homes in the US. It is a division of MTV Networks.
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.
