News Broadcasting

Its ‘focus India’ for BBC World this March

Published

19 years ago

March 5, 2007

MUMBAI: BBC World launched its first ever India focused brand advertising campaign on 16 January this year and has followed this up with a wide variety of India focused programmes this March.

The news channel has constantly maintained that India is its first market for region specific programming and the channel continues to focus on this region through mini series, interviews and perspective stories- the latest being its coverage on the Indian Budget.

Starting 6 March, BBC World will air its mini series Take Off on Indian civil aviation. The documentary series talks to leading industry experts about the recent developments in the aviation sector and analyses the trends.

While the channel has in the past looked at Indian IT and auto sectors, we asked BBC World Commissioning Editor Narendhra Morar why the special focus on aviation sector.

Says Morar, “The aviation industry in many ways symbolises globalisation, given that it’s all about connecting people and places the world over. And the aviation industry in India is a very good metaphor for India’s increasing integration into a globalised world economy. It is also a dynamic and rapidly expanding sector. For all these reasons, we felt India’s aviation industry was an important one that can shed light on many aspects of India’s growing economic importance in the world, a development that is being closely followed by businesses and governments the world over.”

On choosing Miditech to present this documentary series, Morar explained that the comfort level was largely in place having worked with the production house on various other shows and series in the past.

“We have worked on several series with Miditech, including another business series entitled Call Centre. Miditech have the requisite skills and resources to produce a series that meets BBC standards. The series has interviewed a vast variety of people including the Minister of Civil Aviation, the heads of private airlines such as Jet, Kingfisher and Spice as well as previous entrants who subsequently withdrew from the market such as Damania. This is probably the most comprehensive examination of India’s aviation industry,” he adds.

He also explained that Take Off could well be one of the biggest series’ the channel has commissioned with a large number of teams in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore contributing to the making of it. “Given that there are continuing developments in the story of Indian aviation, filming has in fact not been completed. Additional filming has and will continue to be done to ensure that the story is as current as is possible. As BBC World’s commissioning editor, I take a very close interest in the content and am in constant dialogue with the producer on each episode of the series. It is a true collaborative process between BBC World and Miditech,” he says.

Take Off is just the start of the channel’s India focus. Another show Peschardt’s People, which began airing from 3 March, sees Michael Peschardt touring the Asia Pacific region even as he catches up with people and issues that matter in the particular country. Peschardt’s stop in India will see him explore the appeal of Indian films and a conversation with Bollywood actor Preity Zinta. The actress was earlier roped in by BBC news online to write a regular column for their news website.

But the flavour of the month is cricket with ICC World Cup Cricket on in full swing by the latter half of the month. And like other news channels, the BBC is also doing the cricket tango with shows like Sport Today and Extra Time.

Morar also spoke about the other World Cup initiatives by the channel. “Following the success of the interactive programme My World Cup during the Football World Cup in 2006, BBC World will be launching My Cricket World Cup to run throughout the tournament. A twice-weekly show presented by Adnan Nawaz, it will feature regular cricket fans and armchair commentators from across the world. Those who wish to interact with Adnan can do so live via webcam, email or mobile, giving them a chance to have their say about the tournament, games, teams and players.”

Morar admits that BBC World “has always had a strong affinity with the Indian market and Indian audiences and we also remain firmly committed to output covering India in all its myriad manifestations. There has always been a historic link between the BBC and India and in that sense what we are doing now is simply a continuation of this connection.”

BBC World has maintained that outside Europe, India is the single most important market for the news channel. The competition from national news channels, especially the addition of English news channels and the CNN-factor, have made BBC World take a re-look at their programming and bring in a stronger Indian perspective. The channel can no longer use the garb of historical connections and will have to work aggressively to compete in this key growing market.

But Morar brushes aside this fact by stating, “Competition from other broadcasters is not only a fact but is to be welcomed as it enables us to give off our best.”

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News Broadcasting

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

Published

1 week 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 week 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 week 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.