ITV

Category: TV Channels

  • Zee News unveils India’s first media-led deepfake detection system

    Zee News unveils India’s first media-led deepfake detection system

    MUMBAI: Truth just got a new tech ally. Zee News, in collaboration with Neural Defend, has rolled out India’s first AI-powered deepfake verification system for the news media, putting advanced fact-checking directly in the hands of citizens.

    The initiative comes at a time when deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation are fast eroding public trust. Studies reveal that nearly 96 per cent of manipulated videos slip past the average viewer undetected, threatening journalism and democracy alike. By offering a simple drag-and-drop interface where users can upload videos, images, or audio files for instant verification, Zee News is making authenticity accessible to everyone.

    Unveiling the platform during a prime-time broadcast, managing editor Rahul Sinha urged viewers to test any suspicious video themselves. “Trust is the new benchmark,” added  ZMCL marketing head Anindya Khare, noting that the system not only safeguards audiences, particularly younger, digital-first viewers but also provides advertisers with a brand-safe environment rooted in credibility.

    On the tech front, ZMCL CTO Vijayant Kumar explained that Neural Defend’s AI engine can detect even the most sophisticated manipulations within seconds. “This is not just innovation for today but a safeguard for tomorrow’s information ecosystem,” he said.

    By integrating deepfake detection across TV, web, and digital platforms, Zee News is cementing its position as a technology-first newsroom, one that is not only reporting the truth but also helping audiences verify it.

     

  • ICC women’s cricket gets the full broadcast treatment

    ICC women’s cricket gets the full broadcast treatment

    MUMBAI: The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 is getting the full broadcast bells-and-whistles treatment, with every match set for live production on ICC.tv with the  tournament kicking off today on 30 September  across five venues in India and Sri Lanka.

    The production, backed by JioStar as production services partner and NEP supplying kit, is serving up a 30-minute pre-game show, in-depth innings-break analysis and comprehensive post-match wrap-ups—the full monty for cricket fans worldwide.

    ICC.tv, working with JioStar, is producing vertical, mobile-first coverage for select games, catering to the thumb-scrolling generation.

    On the tech front, Hawk-Eye’s Smart Replay system is powering the Decision Review System (DRS) whilst also providing Piero graphics for tactical insights and technical analysis. WTVision is handling scoring graphics, collaborating with Cricviz for deep cricket data and analytics. Quidich Innovation Labs rounds out the team with player tracking services and Field 360°, a dynamic virtual field model that showcases evolving fielding positions in real time.

    The tournament’s commercial clout underscores women’s cricket’s surging popularity. The broadcast is reaching audiences via Star Sports, Disney+ Hotstar, Sky Sports, SuperSport, Willow, Prime Video, CricLife, PTV Sports, Ten Sports, ESPN, Sky NZ, TSM, ATN and TV1—a global footprint that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.

    Emirates, Aramco and DP World have signed on as premier partners, whilst Coca-Cola, Sobha, Rexona and Google have joined as global partners. Royal Stag, FanCraze and Near round out the commercial roster as official supporters, with Cricket4Good backing the tournament’s social responsibility initiatives.

    The tournament marks another step forward in broadcasting women’s cricket with production values matching the men’s game—and sponsors queuing up to be part of it.

  • Coca-cola bowls a green over with Maidaan Saaf at Women’s World Cup

    Coca-cola bowls a green over with Maidaan Saaf at Women’s World Cup

    MUMBAI: Forget sixes and stumpings, this World Cup is also about sweeping. As the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 kicks off in India, Coca-cola India, in partnership with the International Cricket Council (ICC), has launched its Maidaan Saaf campaign, turning stadiums into test cases for sustainability between 30 September and 2 November.

    The idea is simple but striking: fold responsible waste management into the very fabric of the fan experience. That means volunteers guiding spectators on segregation, safai saathis and waste workers working shoulder to shoulder with stadium staff, and installations crafted from recycled plastic that double as Instagrammable art. Even the giant national flags unfurled during anthem ceremonies have been stitched from recycled PET bottles (rPET), a reminder that waste can wave as a symbol of pride.

    Coca-cola vice president of public affairs communications and sustainability for India & South West Asia Devyani Rana said, “Cricket connects millions of people, and through Maidaan Saaf we want to ensure these shared moments of joy also leave a positive impact. Our work with ICC and grassroots partners demonstrates that major sporting events can inspire communities to recycle more and waste less, while still delivering an unforgettable fan experience.”

    The ICC is equally invested in making sustainability part of cricket’s playbook. ICC chief commercial officer Anurag Dahiya added, “Cricket has the power to inspire positive change well beyond the boundary. Through this partnership with Coca-cola India, we are embedding sustainability into the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. Fans will see how simple actions like segregating waste or celebrating recycled creations can make our sport more inclusive and responsible.”

    The campaign builds on Coca-cola India’s earlier innings: at the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023, the company ran one of the largest-ever waste management programmes at a sporting event in India. The Rpet flag from that tournament entered the Limca Book of Records 2025, cementing its place in sustainability’s hall of fame.

    With Maidaan Saaf, Coca-cola India is doubling down on its commitment to circularity. Working with NGOs, recyclers and local authorities, the initiative aims to show that cricket can be more than a spectacle, it can be a platform for greener habits.

    So as fans cheer boundaries and wickets this season, they’ll also be part of a quieter but equally important game: proving that stadiums can be as clean as they are loud.

  • Zee Business, Entrecon 2025 team up to fuel India’s startup growth story

    Zee Business, Entrecon 2025 team up to fuel India’s startup growth story

    MUMBAI: Zee Business, one of India’s leading Hindi business news channels, has partnered exclusively with Entrecon 2025, one of the country’s most ambitious entrepreneurship conclaves. Slated for 9–10 October at IIM Lucknow – EIC, Noida, the second edition promises to be a landmark gathering of 400 plus startups, 100 plus investors, 80 plus corporates, and 50 plus powerhouse speakers.

    With its live coverage, Zee Business will beam the energy, ideas, and debates from the venue to millions of living rooms and mobile screens across the nation, ensuring the movement goes beyond the halls of IIM.

    Entrecon 2025 isn’t just an event, it’s a catalyst. After the debut edition connected 200 startups with 70 investors and sparked 1.4 crore worth of business discussions, this year’s conclave aims to bridge the gap between capital and creativity at an even larger scale.

    The star-studded speaker line-up spans business, entertainment, and venture capital, featuring voices like Ashish Agarwal (Resurgent India), Navin Honagudi (Elev8 Partners), Rohit Bhayana (Lumis Ventures), Anish Agarwal (Warner Bros. Discovery), actor-entrepreneur Anupriya Goenka, Deep Bajaj (Sirona), and Anurag Batra (Business World).

    IDPL CBO Priyadarshan Garg framed the collaboration as a national mission, “Through our Live coverage of Entrecon 2025, we are not just broadcasting an event, but igniting a nationwide movement that connects visionaries with millions of aspiring entrepreneurs.”

    Gkconsulting CEO Mukesh Malik added, “Entrecon 2025 is designed to foster innovation, create bridges between startups and investors, and showcase India’s potential as a global hub of entrepreneurship. Partnering with Zee Business ensures these conversations inspire the entire nation.”

    With Zee Business as its official telecast partner, Entrecon 2025 is shaping up to be more than a conclave, it’s a movement set to redefine how India thinks, builds, and dreams entrepreneurship.

  • US Open smashes records in India with 877m watch minutes on JioStar

    US Open smashes records in India with 877m watch minutes on JioStar

    MUMBAI: When the ball hit the lines at Flushing Meadows this year, Indian audiences weren’t just watching, they were glued to their screens in record numbers. JioStar Network has revealed that the US Open 2025 clocked a staggering 877 million minutes of watch-time across Linear TV and Digital platforms, marking a watershed moment for tennis in India.

    This year’s edition opened with a twist: a novel mixed doubles format that instantly broadened the tournament’s appeal. On Linear TV alone, the event amassed 388 million minutes of total watch time, the highest ever for the US Open in the BARC era. The Hindi commentary experiment struck gold, drawing in viewers far beyond the sport’s traditional base. In fact, 18 million Indians tuned in, a 96 per cent jump year-on-year setting new records for reach.

    On JioHotstar, the digital stream lit up as fans followed Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz lifting the singles crowns. Together, online audiences clocked 489 million minutes of watch time, a figure that underlines both the pull of tennis and the power of accessible streaming.

    JioStar Sports head of audience engagement and monetization Siddharth Sharma said: “We have a strong belief in the fandom for tennis and the US Open in particular, and our proposition was built around that. The success we achieved across both our linear and digital platforms is a clear sign of the ever-growing passion for tennis in India.”

    The achievement cements JioStar’s positioning as India’s ultimate sporting destination, adding the US Open to a roster that already includes rights to ICC events, India’s men’s and women’s cricket teams, the TATA IPL and WPL, the Premier League, Wimbledon, and the Pro Kabaddi League. With such a calendar, JioStar has created a platform where global and domestic sporting milestones converge for Indian fans.

    The success of the US Open is more than a stat-sheet triumph. It signals tennis breaking through to a wider audience in India, a country where cricket usually reigns unchallenged. With 877 million minutes of passion, it’s clear the sport has found a new gear and JioStar, the perfect stage.

  • ET Now doubles the drama with South Central and Ayesha Faridi’s Interview

    ET Now doubles the drama with South Central and Ayesha Faridi’s Interview

    MUMBAI: Lights, camera, South India! ET Now, India’s leading English business news channel, is spicing up its programming lineup with two brand-new offerings South Central and The Interview with Ayesha Faridi. Both promise to add depth, drama, and dialogue to the channel’s already formidable portfolio.

    First up is South Central, a weekday special airing from 29th September 2025, 5:30 pm–6:00 pm, helmed by ET Now’s Jude Sujendran. More than just a show, it’s a journey into the beating heart of South India, a region that’s equal parts economic powerhouse and cultural trendsetter. From boardroom battles in Bengaluru to cinematic splendour in Chennai, the show will explore everything from politics and policy to food and lifestyle. Its editorial pillars business & economy, politics & policy, cinema & culture, and food & lifestyle ensure that viewers get the full southern thali, not just a side dish.

    Then comes The Interview with Ayesha Faridi, premiering on 3rd October 2025 at 3:30 pm. Executive editor Ayesha Faridi will trade soundbites for substance in a 25-minute deep dive with marquee voices from business, markets, policy, sports, and culture. Expect candid revelations, untold stories, and insights into future strategies from leaders shaping the country’s direction. Designed to rise above the clutter of breaking news, this flagship weekly show aims to bring clarity and context to India’s biggest decisions.

    “Both the shows embody our vision of combining sharp analysis with engaging narratives, offering viewers unmatched perspectives on the people and forces shaping India’s economy, politics, and culture,” Times Network said in a statement.

    For ET Now, already home to marquee programmes like The Market, First Trades and Closing Trades, the new additions reinforce its ethos of Rise with India, with coverage spanning 16 countries.

    So whether it’s the spice of southern stories or the candour of conversations, ET Now’s festive programming treat promises something fresh for every viewer.

    Tune in to South Central every weekday at 5:30 pm, and The Interview with Ayesha Faridi every Friday at 3:30 PM, only on ET Now.

  • Bharat Express brings back Varun Kohli as group chief executive

    Bharat Express brings back Varun Kohli as group chief executive

    NOIDA:  In the media industry, boomerang hires are increasingly common. But when a news channel rehires the executive who built it from scratch, it signals ambition rather than desperation.

    Bharat Express has brought back Varun Kohli as director and group chief executive, marking his return to an organisation he helped launch in January 2023.  Kohli, who spent just over a year at Bharat Express before joining Times Network as chief operating officer, is being tasked with expanding the channel’s reach and deepening its impact in India’s competitive news broadcasting market.

    During his first stint, Kohli shaped the channel’s editorial and business strategy, built its core team and established its operational framework. His move to Times Network in 2024 saw him oversee critical operations across a larger network. Now, armed with that broader experience, he returns to accelerate Bharat Express’s growth trajectory.

    “During his first innings, Varun played a foundational role in successfully launching the channel and positioning Bharat Express as a credible voice in Indian news media,” said Bharat Express chairman, managing director & editor in chief Upendrra Rai. “With his return, we are confident that his deep industry experience and visionary approach will help us accelerate our growth and take the channel to new heights.”

    Kohli brings three decades of media experience, having held leadership roles at ITV Network, Deccan Chronicle Holdings, Network18, Bennett Coleman & Co., HT Media and Amar Ujala Prakashan. He is known for launching and turning around media brands, with a reputation for driving revenue growth and building high-performance teams.

    The appointment positions Bharat Express for its next phase of expansion, with Kohli’s return bringing both institutional knowledge and fresh strategic insights gained from his time at one of India’s largest broadcasting networks.

  • Point Blank gears up for hard-hitting episode with R.K. Singh interview

    Point Blank gears up for hard-hitting episode with R.K. Singh interview

    MUMBAI: When politics turns into prime-time theatre, few shows pack the punch of Point Blank. Live Times’ flagship programme, helmed by veteran anchor Deepak Chaurasia, is set to air another explosive episode on Sunday, 28 September at 8 pm, with senior BJP leader and former union minister R.K. Singh in the hot seat.

    In a no-holds-barred exchange, Singh tears into the BJP-led Bihar government, alleging corruption has seeped into even the prime minister’s flagship PM Awas Yojana. According to him, commissions are the price of approvals, and the Nitish Kumar administration has “no control” over the rot. Singh directly challenges party leaders Dilip Jaiswal and Ashok Choudhary to answer his allegations.

    But he doesn’t stop there. The former minister drops another political bombshell: Prashant Kishor invited him to join his party. While Singh insists he has no immediate plans to quit the BJP, he boldly declares he would form his own political party if expelled. “Ideas are good, but they must translate into action,” he says, hinting that Kishor’s promises may need proof in practice.

    The episode also revisits Singh’s much-debated association with the phrase “saffron terror”. He clarifies that the term was coined by others including former home minister and Congress veteran Digvijay Singh while his own comments were restricted to presenting facts. Singh underlines that the NDA’s path to electoral victory lies in restoring honesty and integrity, not in rhetoric.

    The interview captures the political crossroads facing Singh, who blends candour with calculation. It’s a conversation that could shake up the NDA narrative in Bihar, where anti-corruption credibility has often made or broken governments.

    Reflecting on the larger mission of Point Blank, Live Times founder Dilip Kumar Singh says: “At Live Times, truth is not negotiable. Point Blank embodies our mission to confront power with courage and clarity. This interview with R.K. Singh proves why journalism must go beyond headlines, it delivers the unfiltered reality citizens deserve.”

    With fearless questioning, fact-driven debate, and a refusal to let power escape scrutiny, Point Blank has cemented itself as the channel’s beating heart. Tomorrow’s episode is expected to be one of its most hard-hitting yet, a must-watch for anyone tracking the future of Bihar politics and the NDA’s credibility crisis.

    Audiences can tune in on DD Free Dish – Channel 100, Tata Play – 539, Airtel Digital TV – 385, Dish TV – 665, Sikka Cable – 519, and Jio TV – 3069, as well as streaming platforms including Tata Play Mobile, Airtel Xstream, Dish TV Watcho, and DD Waves. The full broadcast will also be available at www.livetimes.news.

    Live Times Complete Truth, Whatever It Takes.

  • Sportel Monaco flexes its muscles as sports media titans prepare to gather

    Sportel Monaco flexes its muscles as sports media titans prepare to gather

    MONACO: The sports media industry’s glitterati are preparing to descend on Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum next month, as Sportel Monaco returns for its flagship annual gathering from 20-22 October. The event, which has become the de facto marketplace for international sports media deals, is already showing signs of its strongest edition in years.

    Exhibition space is nearly sold out, with more than 70 exhibitors confirmed including heavyweight American networks ESPN and NFL, alongside European football powerhouses LaLiga and Bundesliga. Tech disruptors such as Sportradar, WSC Sports and Wurl will rub shoulders with traditional broadcasters in what promises to be a fascinating collision of old and new media.

    The 2025 programme reflects an industry in flux. Conference sessions will dissect how generative artificial intelligence is revolutionising production and fan engagement, while panels explore the streaming wars and new monetisation models that are upending traditional broadcasting. Private equity’s growing appetite for sports assets will also come under the microscope.

    Hollywood’s creeping influence on sports storytelling gets star billing with a panel titled Hollywood hits the paddock: F1 taking storytelling to the next level. The session reflects Formula 1’s remarkable transformation from niche motorsport to global entertainment phenomenon, aided by Netflix’s Drive to Survive series.

    LaLiga president Javier Tebas will deliver the event’s keynote address, while executives from Amazon Web Services, Liverpool FC, World Rugby and the Professional Fighters League are among those offering insights into their strategies.

    Networking remains central to Sportel’s appeal. A new Sports Bar will provide a relaxed environment for deal-making, while the Women’s Lunch returns after its successful debut last year, highlighting female leadership across the industry.

    “This year is already shaping up to be a great success,” said Sportel Monaco executive director Loris Menoni. “The programme is designed to reflect the very latest industry trends.”

    The Monaco gathering’s strength has convinced organisers to expand eastwards once again. Sportel Singapore will return on 24-25 March 2026, following strong Asian demand for the format.

    As traditional media companies grapple with cord-cutting and tech giants muscle into sports rights, Sportel’s marketplace function has never been more crucial. The Monaco edition will reveal whether the industry’s transformation is accelerating—or whether some old certainties still hold.

  • Aaj Tak’s Health summit tackles India’s silent crisis

    Aaj Tak’s Health summit tackles India’s silent crisis

    MUMBAI: India’s health is under the weather, and Aaj Tak is putting it back in the spotlight. The news channel will host the first edition of Health summit 2025 on 29 September, aligning with World heart day, to address the nation’s growing silent health emergency.

    With more than 100 million people battling diabetes, obesity and fatty liver cases on the rise, and mental health concerns mounting, the summit promises to be a wake-up call. Policymakers, doctors, nutritionists and mental health experts will gather for a day of hard-hitting discussions on everything from cardiovascular health and childhood lifestyle diseases to nutrition myths and mental well-being.

    Union health minister J P Nadda, yoga guru Swami Ramdev, and eminent specialists including Fortis Escorts’s Ashok Seth and AIIMS’s Rakesh Yadav will join the dialogue. Senior ministers from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh will also bring a policymaker’s perspective.

    Anchored by Aaj Tak’s most trusted voices, the event aims not just to raise awareness but to inspire action: building pathways for a fitter, stronger, and healthier India.