News Broadcasting

CNN-IBN hit with copyright case; court stays show

Published

19 years ago

June 9, 2007

NEW DELHI: The Bombay High court on 7 June granted an stayed in the interim the CNN-IBN reality show Summer Showdown, accused of violating copyright and breaching confidentiality by scriptwriter Urmi Javekar Chiang, who had allegedly sent the channel the original project titled Work in Progress.

This means that the last three episodes, the conclusive part of which was to air today (9 June), could not be aired, as an appeal to vacate the stay filed by the channel yesterday was refused by the court.

The court said that it was not possible to grant the prayer of the channel to refuse a stay, “in view of the detailed reasons recorded in the order, which dictation took more than two and half hours”. Before writing the order, the court heard the marathon arguments for three hours.

The vacation judge held: “Pending the hearing and final disposal of the suit, it is absolutely just, necessary and proper that the plaintiff is entitled to… an injunction of this Hon’ble Court, restraining the defendants… from in any manner whatsoever infringing the copyright of the plaintiff in the original ‘literary work’.”

While the above statement was on the issue if violation of Chiang’s copyright, the court further took cognisance of the allegation of breaching the confidentiality of information passed on by Chiang to the channel. The case is expected to come up for an appeal on Monday (11 June).

The court said that the literary work was the “concept note of the television programme, Work in Progress, and stopped the channel from directing or making or copying or reproducing the same, or publishing or broadcasting or otherwise reproducing the work by making and broadcasting the television programme Summer Showdown without the plaintiff’s consent”.

It said that granting the request of the channel would make the case infructuous, “in as much as the programme… is limited to 10 June”, but the interests of the channel would not be compromised if the stay is ordered, as the channel had stated that the programme is aired for only two to three minutes a day.

CNN-IBN, in their affidavit, argued that Chiang had no serious case and was merely trying to create confusion, and that she had failed to show that what she sought to protect has been copied by the channel.

“No attempt has been made by the Plaintiff to draw out any alleged similarities” between her work and what the channel televised, said the affidavit.

“Making a hero out of a common man by giving him a target of 30 days to solve a problem of their choice, creating drama and tension, involving public by SMS polls, showing the authorities as antagonists is completely different from pitching civic agencies from five cities against each other to solve civic problems without any of the ingredients of the Plaintiff’s concept note,” says the affidavit.

The channel stated that it would be incorrect to call Chiang’s note one on a reality show, and that she alone held the copyright to a reality show involving people solving civic problems.

Besides, CNN-IBN has done programming of this nature, it had been argued by them, and that many other channels have shows of this nature.

The channel argued also that for copyright infringement to be alleged there must be substantial and frame-by-frame imitation of Chiang’s work, but the CNN-IBN show is materially different from what her concept note said.

Chiang’s petition seeks payment of damages worth Rs 500,000, plus costs of court case, and also reserves the right to ask for higher damages and pay the court fees accordingly.

Chiang had filed a petition with the court saying that in or about November 2005, she had an idea of a reality television programme which would follow citizens from different parts of the country as they took the initiative and set out to solve a civic problem of their choice in their locality.

The programme would follow the chosen protagonists through the quagmire of bureaucracy and conflicting interests and destructive attitudes as they tried to solve a civic problem of their choice.

Chiang says in her petition that she had worked out a written project concept note for this reality show and had it registered with the Film Writer’s Association, Mumbai.

Subsequently, Chiang sent it to CNN-IBN’s Rasika Tyagi by email, and the latter responded back on 21 March, 2006 – by Email – that she had taken a look at the project and found it interesting, and asked Chiang to come to Delhi to discuss the project further.

The channel discussed the content in detail but did not agree to the budget she wanted, so Chiang says she got Arun Gaurisaria as the ‘Line Producer’, who re-worked the budget and sent it over to Tyagi.

Chiang said in her petition that she also discussed the concept with Ramchandran Srinivasan, another producer.

Srinivasan sent an email dated 24 July, 2006 to CNN-IBN Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai. Srinivasan referred to Chiang’s proposal and stated that he could cut down the budget if he produced it.

Srinivasan, in fact, forwarded the budget as well as the original concept to Sardesai who replied to the email.

On 3 February, 2007, Gaurisaria met Sardesai on a flight and discussed the project, and again emailed the concept note of the proposed television programme to the latter.

As there was no reply, Gaurisaria sent a reminder email dated 15 February to Sardesai.

Chiang says that despite many follow-up emails by Gaurisaria, CNN-IBN had then fallen silent.

On or about 19 April, Chiang’s petition says, she was shocked to see promotions of a programme titled Summer Showdown on the CNN-IBN Television Channel, “which seeks to showcase five families across five cities, trying to find solutions to civic woes that come with summer.

The promo videos suggest that the television programme Summer Showdown follows the chosen protagonists through the quagmire of bureaucracy and conflicting interests and destructive attitudes as they try to solve a civic problem of their choice.

In short, she alleges that it was a straight take-off from her original work, which had already been registered in her name, and said that the only difference was, instead of individuals setting out from four corners of India, as she had first visualised, there were five families, but this was a mere ‘cosmetic change’.

The channel denied charges of breach of confidentiality because it said Chiang had been repeatedly sending the proposal unsolicited by CNN-IBN.

Related Topics:CNN-IBN Gaurisaria Rajdeep Sardesai. Srinivasan

Up Next

Radio listenership growth slowing down in metros

Don't Miss

Navratilova, Rusedski join BBC’s Wimbledon commentary team

Click to comment

News Broadcasting

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

Published

2 weeks 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

2 weeks 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

2 weeks 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.