News Broadcasting
Walters calls it a day on ABC’s ’20/20′ after 25 years
MUMBAI: This is a big moment in the annals of American television. Anchor Barbara Walters who has done memorable interviews on ABC’s 20/20 with the likes of Monica Lewinsky, Cuban President Fidel Castro, actor Christopher Reeve after his riding accident is stepping down as the show’s host after 25 years.
A report in eonline indicates that from September she will cut back on her work schedule to six news specials a year for ABC News. This will include her annual Oscar special.
Walters issued a statement saying that the decision had been taken as she was looking for a greater degree of flexibility in her life. The report adds that her March 1999 interview with Lewinsky attracted 48.5 million viewers. An AP report stated that 20/20 is often done with a soft-focus camera and features teary subjects.
Walters was concerned about the fact that people were more interested in seeing celebrities and people from the showbiz arena. She once told the New York Times, “We did Castro and it was a huge interview. But we did much better in the ratings with Courteney Cox and David Arquette.”
In 1990 Walters was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Hall of Fame. The 74 year old has been in front of the cameras since 1963 when she became the co-host of NBC’s Today Show.
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.
