News Broadcasting

Cable fraternity gives One Alliance the thumbs up

Published

22 years ago

November 27, 2003

MUMBAI: It was a hip ‘n’ happening night where bellies shook and the cable fraternity had a blast courtesy the SET-Discovery One Alliance.

If the enthusiastic reactions of the crowd were any indication of how the One Alliance distribution bouquet is viewed, then SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta and company must have gone to bed with big grins on their faces.

The occasion was a grand One Bash organised by the One Alliance in Juhu in suburban Mumbai last night. The One Alliance was formed last year between Sony and Discovery and now boasts of seven channels. The bash saw around 500 cable operators having a blast, courtesy loud Indipop music and gyrating belly dancers. Altogether, 20 trophies were presented to MSOs, big and small, including biggies like IndusInd Media, Hathway and smaller operators like Sarkar Cable.

Speaking on the occasion, Shantonu Aditya who heads the One Alliance said, “We wanted to put up a grand show to thank the cable operators for all the efforts they have made in extending our reach. Of course, the World Cup in March saw us become the number one distribution network at that time. There is no hidden agenda behind this party. We just want them to have a good time and let them know that we appreciate what they are doing.”

Aditya also sought to downplay market talk that another channel like Ten Sports or MTV would be joining the bouquet in the near future. “It is premature to talk about that,” he said.

The biggest coup of the night for the One Alliance screened an AV where heads of different cable companies gave the thumbs up to the One Alliance. Seen in the Av were Hathway CEO K Jayaraman, INCableNet’s Ram Hingorani, 7 Star’s Shamim Shaikh and the Shiv Sena backed Cable Operators and Distributors Association president and head of Dattatray Cable Anil Parab, among others. Comments went like this. “It has different shades of colour. The mix of English movies, Hindi movies, news, Hindi general entertainment shows ensures that the entire family is taken care of.”

Another cable op said,” I admire the way in which the channels are programmed. The professionals working at the One Alliance are on the same wavelength as us and so we are more comfortable working with them than with any other bouquet that Indian television has to offer. Ek saath Ek Manzil Ek Dum.”

One area where the One Alliance has had great success with the cable fraternity is with Max’s brand ambassador Kapil Dev. The former cricketer had travelled the country prior to the cricket World Cup earlier this year, seeking their blessings. Last night, he appeared early on in the show and said, “Many years ago when I used to go abroad to the UK or the US, I used to see 50-100 channels on television there. I used to wonder when India would see this kind of activity. Today, the consumer is spoilt for choice and it is entirely due to your efforts. You’ll have played a big hand in making the industry what it is without any government help or outside aid.” Needless to add, another of Max’s attractions Mandira Extraaa Innings Bedi was greeted with roars of approval. Mandira was quite the belle of the ball what with star-struck cable ops asking for autographs and quite a few of them offering her roses.

Last night, each of the seven channels had their own stall put up along with information kits. Surprisingly, executives from Discovery, NDTV, HBO were nowhere to be seen. A highlight of the programme were the co-hosts of AXN’s Extreme Dhamaka reality initiative Salil Acharya and Deepica Sarma.

They gave the cable crowd an in-your-face feeling of what the action oriented brand was all about, by inviting some of them on stage to perform simple dares. One involved drinking tequila with one’s hands clasped behind. Of course, prizes were distributed courtesy the various channels throughout the evening.

All in all, for the Indian television industry it was extremely positive to see broadcasters and cable ops coming together to have fun. For one night at least the vexed issues like under-declaration, increases in subscription rates, signal switch-offs over non payment of dues and conditional access were kept under wraps.

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News Broadcasting

Barc forensic audit in TRP row awaits as Twenty-Four probe gathers pace

Published

1 month ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

KERALA: A forensic audit commissioned by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has emerged as the centrepiece of the government’s response to fresh allegations of television rating point manipulation involving a regional news channel in Kerala, with both the audit findings and a parallel police investigation still awaited.

Replying to a query in the Lok Sabha, minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan, said Barc had appointed an independent agency to conduct a forensic probe into the conduct of senior personnel allegedly linked to the case.

The move followed media reports claiming that a Barc employee had accepted bribes to manipulate viewership data in favour of a regional television news channel.

“The report from BARC is still awaited,” Murugan told Parliament, signalling that the forensic exercise remains ongoing.

Industry specialists say forensic audits are crucial in alleged TRP fraud cases, as they examine internal controls, data access trails, panel household integrity, staff communications and financial transactions. The outcome could determine whether the alleged manipulation was an isolated breach or a deeper systemic weakness in India’s television measurement framework.

Running alongside the audit, the Kerala Police has formed a special investigation team to probe the allegations. The ministry has sought a preliminary report from the state’s director general of police, including details of action taken on the first information report. That report, too, is yet to be submitted.

The episode has revived long-standing concerns over the vulnerability of India’s TRP system, particularly in regional news markets where competition for ratings is fierce and advertising revenues hinge on weekly viewership rankings.

India’s sole television audience measurement body Barc, has faced scrutiny before, most notably during the nationwide TRP controversy involving news channels in 2020. While tighter compliance norms were introduced in the aftermath, the latest allegations suggest enforcement challenges may persist.

On regulatory consequences, the government said any punitive action against television channels, including suspension or cancellation of uplinking and downlinking permissions, would be governed by the Policy Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels issued in November 2022, and would depend on investigation outcomes and due process.

The ministry also pointed to ongoing efforts to overhaul the ratings ecosystem. Television measurement continues to be regulated under the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, 2014. Draft amendments were released for public consultation in July 2025, followed by a revised version in November 2025, aimed at tightening audit mechanisms and improving transparency and representativeness.

In November 2025, Barc said it had taken note of allegations aired by Malayalam news channel Twenty-Four, which linked an internal employee to irregularities in audience measurement. The council said it had engaged a “reputed independent agency” to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit, underscoring the seriousness of the claims.

The ratings system sits at the heart of India’s broadcast advertising economy, shaping billions of rupees in annual ad spends. With trust in audience data once again under strain, advertisers, broadcasters and regulators are closely watching the outcome of the investigations.

Barc has urged industry stakeholders and media organisations to exercise restraint while the probe is underway, calling for an end to “unverified or speculatory claims” and reiterating its commitment to integrity and accountability.

Until the forensic audit and police findings are submitted and reviewed, the government said it would refrain from drawing conclusions.

News Broadcasting

Rajat Sharma defamation row: Delhi court summons Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh

Published

1 month ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has ordered the summoning of senior Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh in a criminal case filed by veteran journalist Rajat Sharma, sharpening a legal battle over alleged defamation and doctored digital content.

The order was passed on Monday by Devanshi Janmeja, judicial magistrate first class at Saket Courts, after the court found prima facie grounds to proceed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including forgery, creation of false electronic records and defamation.

Sharma, chairman and editor-in-chief of India TV, had approached the court over allegations made in June 2024 that he had used derogatory language against Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak during a live television debate. He denied the charge, claiming it was fuelled by a manipulated video circulated online.

According to the complaint, a clipped version of the broadcast carrying superimposed captions, which were not part of the original programme, was first shared on social media platform X by Nayak and later amplified through retweets and public statements by Khera and Ramesh. Sharma said the viral spread caused serious reputational harm and personal distress.

The court took note of forensic science laboratory findings that pointed to visible post-production alterations in the video, including added titles and captions. It also cited witness testimonies from those present during the live broadcast, who stated that no abusive or objectionable language had been used.

In a related civil matter, the Delhi High Court had earlier observed a prima facie absence of abusive remarks and directed the removal of the disputed social media posts.

With criminal proceedings now set in motion, the case adds to mounting scrutiny around political messaging, digital manipulation and accountability on social media platforms.

News Broadcasting

Mukesh Ambani, Larry Fink come together for CNBC-TV18 exclusive

Reliance and BlackRock chiefs map the future of investing as global capital eyes India

Published

1 month ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: India’s capital story takes centre stage today as Mukesh Ambani and Larry Fink sit down for a rare joint television conversation, bringing together two of the most powerful voices in global business at a moment of economic churn and opportunity.

The Reliance Industries chief and the BlackRock boss will speak with Shereen Bhan, managing editor of CNBC-TV18, in an exclusive interaction airing from 3:00 pm on February 4. The timing is deliberate. Geopolitics are tense, technology is disruptive and capital is choosier. India, meanwhile, is pitching itself as a long-term bet.

The pairing is symbolic. Reliance straddles energy transition, digital infrastructure and consumer growth in the world’s fastest-expanding major economy. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, oversees more than $14 tn in assets and sits at the nerve centre of global capital flows. When the two talk, markets tend to listen.

Fink’s appearance marks his third India visit, a signal of the country’s rising strategic weight for the Wall Street-listed firm, which carries a market value above $177 bn. His earlier 2023 trips included an October stop in New Delhi, where he met both Ambani and Narendra Modi.

India is now central to BlackRock’s expansion plans, notably through its joint venture with Jio Financial Services. Announced in July 2023, the 50:50 venture, JioBlackRock, commits up to $150 mn each from the partners to build a digital-first asset-management platform aimed at India’s swelling investor class.

The backdrop is robust. BlackRock ended 2025 with record assets under management of $14.04 tn, helped by $698 bn in net inflows, including $342 bn in the fourth quarter alone. Scale gives Fink both heft and a long lens on where money is moving.

He has been openly bullish on India. At the Saudi-US Investment Summit in Riyadh last year, Fink argued that the “fog of global uncertainty is lifting”, with capital returning to dynamic markets such as India, drawn by reforms, demographics and durable return potential.

Expect the conversation to range beyond balance sheets, into technology’s role in finance, access to capital and the mechanics of sustainable growth in a fracturing world order. For investors and policymakers alike, it is a snapshot of how big money is thinking about India.

At a time when capital is cautious and growth is contested, India wants to be the exception. When Ambani and Fink share a stage, it is less a chat and more a signal. The world’s money is still looking for its next big story, and India intends to be it.