News Broadcasting
vid’linkMobile made Olympics coverage easy: Beehive
MUMBAI: Beehive Systems’ says that Star News, Zee News and Doordarshan have successfully used its laptop-based digital newsgathering system called vid’linkMoblie to help them cover 2004 Athens Olympics.
The laptop-based mobile newsgathering equipment, vid’linkMobile was being used by the news reporters to transfer video footage through the course of the event over non-conventional mediums like dial up internet connection, says an official communique.
The advanced codec used in vid’linkMobile compresses the video almost 70 per cent more efficiently than other compression standards making sure at the same time that the video quality remains intact. The biggest value addition, claims the release, is that the cost of transferring the video from remote locations using vid’linkMobile is almost 80 per cent less than traditional mediums like VSAT, and leased lines.
According to the release, Zee News was able to transmit the video footage over a 3G mobile phone.
Speaking about how Beehive’s vid’linkMobile has benefited the channel, Zee News CEO Laxmi Goel said, “vid’linkMobile has helped us reduce the cost of covering Olympics significantly which would have otherwise been considerably large given the scale of coverage for an event as big as the Olympics. One other advantage is, since the system is laptop-based, it gives our reporters the flexibility to move anytime, anywhere without having to travel with traditionally bulky equipment which firstly needs considerable preparation to set up and secondly limits mobility.”
While Star News’ director operations Vynsley Fernandes said, “Using vid’linkMobile to cover Olympics has made lot of business sense for Star News considering that this system has helped us cover one of the biggest events of the decade at a fraction of the cost normally incurred by traditional mode of video transfer. Goes without saying that the quality and ease of handling is a phenomenal advantage in itself.”
According to Beehive Systems’ vice-president, business development Ajay Pal Singh said, “It’s a matter of great pride for us that such high-profile channels like Zee News, Star News and Doordarshan have relied on Beehive’s newsgathering solution to cover an event as prestigious and important as the Olympics. The clients’ feedback on the system’s performance and the impact it has had on their business has been very positive so far and there is no reason why it should not go on to bring about tremendous cost benefits for the clients by the time the event is over.”
Prior to this, the release claims that Doordarshan had used vid’linkMobile to cover the Iraq war and was able to achieve unprecedented views of the battlefield, which in turn had help the pubcaster to give a fillip to its TRPs.
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. AICC’s Praveen Chakravarty weighs ‘Power Sharing vs Principles’, while former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joins the fray. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
