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Tag: CNN

  • Bobble AI appoints Ravi Shharma as its chief business officer

    Bobble AI appoints Ravi Shharma as its chief business officer

    Mumbai: Bobble AI on Friday announced the appointment of Ravi Shharma as its new chief business officer. In his capacity as chief business officer, Shharma will be responsible for driving B2B business growth for existing revenue streams – A&M (Advertising & Marketing), DaaS (Data as a Service), and  TaaS (Technology as a Service) and future streams, overseeing sales and revenue generation strategies, and exploring new market opportunities to scale revenue. He will work closely with the executive team to steer Bobble AI towards continued success and growth and report to founder & CEO Ankit Prasad.

    “We are excited to welcome Ravi to our team. His extensive work experience of around 25 years, proven track record as a sales leader with quite a few Fortune 500 companies, deeper understanding of media sales, ability & vision to scale businesses in a rapidly changing digital landscape and commitment to delivering results will undoubtedly be a great asset to our business going forward. Bobble AI has been roping in industry stalwarts to accelerate the growth and expansion plans and we are confident that Ravi’s integration into the team will strengthen that process & help us achieve new milestones,” said Prasad.

    Shharma comes with a solid reputation as a veteran sales leader with a rich and diverse background coupled with exceptional revenue growth skills while working as sales/ revenue head for many global & Indian media companies like CNN, Turner Broadcasting, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros, HBO, Gaana & Saavn in his previous stint. In his more than two decades of experience, he has contributed to an array of activities spanning evolving business strategy and value proposition, creating a multi-year business plan along with the creation of multi-geography business ecosystems.

    Having a strong understanding of the entire media landscape – from Print to TV to Digital as an industry stalwart, at Bobble AI he will be instrumental in envisioning, designing and executing impactful business development strategies aligning the company’s expansion plans, its industry vision and the impactful approach backed by exclusive consumer intelligence and artificial intelligence to bring a paradigm shift in the mobile marketing & advertising landscape.

    Shharma said, “In the last few years Bobble AI has emerged as the most impactful deep tech solution company in India by re-imagining the keyboard utility as a holistic conversation media platform that has empowered brands to engage with their millions of potential customers in a creative and non-intrusive way. Despite having worked with many global media companies for over two decades, it’s probably the first time I felt moved by the unparalleled disruptions in the mobile marketing & advertising space that Bobble AI is driving and challenging the incumbents. I am quite excited to be part of a visionary team of innovators and look forward to achieving our collective goals and driving the company’s growth.”

  • CNN FlashDocs to premiere ‘Serena Williams: On Her Terms’ on 11 September

    CNN FlashDocs to premiere ‘Serena Williams: On Her Terms’ on 11 September

    Mumbai: At the close of the annual US Open Tennis Championships, CNN in the US will celebrate the personal and professional life of multiple tennis Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in “Serena Williams: On Her Terms.” Produced by the CNN FlashDocs unit, the hour-long special will premiere on 11 September.

    Williams, widely regarded as the greatest tennis player of all time, is one of the most decorated women in history, having won 23 singles Grand Slam titles, four Olympic Gold Medals, and nearly $100 million in prize money. Her ascent has spanned three action-packed decades, turning Williams into a global force and a household name. On 9 August, Williams announced her formal “evolution” from the sport, citing her desire to focus on her career as a venture capitalist and expand her family.

    “Serena Williams: On Her Terms” chronicles her early beginnings in Compton, CA to her epic ascent to international prominence, exploring the key moments on and off the court that shaped the athlete, woman, and mother. The documentary boasts an all-female interview roster, featuring conversations with Kerri Walsh Jennings (three-time Olympic gold medalist and beach volleyball player), Jennie Finch (Olympic gold medalist and softball pitcher), Napheesa Collier (Olympic gold medalist and WNBA Minnesota Lynx forward), Lindsay Flach (nine-time Team USA track and field heptathlete) – all who have grappled with motherhood and their sports – in addition to Rennae Stubbs (Williams’ current US Open coach and four-time Olympian), Cari Champion, Zina Garrison and Chandra Rubin, (co-hosts, The GOAT: Serena podcast) and CNN’s Christine Brennan.

  • CNN US’ original series ‘The Murdochs: Empire of Influence’ to air in September

    CNN US’ original series ‘The Murdochs: Empire of Influence’ to air in September

    Mumbai: News broadcaster CNN US has announced that The Murdochs: Empire of Influence will air on the cable network next month. Produced by Left/Right and The New York Times, this will be about the media family and their complicated history. CNN will launch this original series with a special two-episode premiere on 25 September.

    Based on Jonathan Mahler and Jim Rutenberg’s New York Times Magazine article, “How Rupert Murdoch’s Empire of Influence Remade the World,” this CNN original series explores the legacy of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and the dynasty he built. Featuring reporting from The New York Times, interviews with people who worked inside the Murdoch companies, and decades of archival footage, this seven-part series goes behind the scenes of the improbable rise of a media tycoon, his outsized influence around the globe, and the intense succession battle between his children over who will inherit his throne. 

    The Murdochs: Empire of Influence charts the high-stakes deal making, political maneuvering, and dynastic betrayals that shaped one of the largest media empires in history. The series will regularly air on Sundays on CNN.

    The Murdochs: Empire of Influence will stream live for pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN OTT, and mobile apps under “TV Channels” or “CNNgo” where available. The series will also be available on demand the day after the broadcast premiere to pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN apps, and cable operator platforms.

    The CNN original series group develops non-scripted programming for television via commissioned projects, acquisitions, and in-house production.

  • WarnerMedia pauses business operations in Russia amid Ukraine conflict

    WarnerMedia pauses business operations in Russia amid Ukraine conflict

    Mumbai: As the Russia-Ukraine ongoing war has escalated over the days, the entertainment conglomerate WarnerMedia decided to pause “all new business” in Russia, CEO Jason Kilar said. This announcement comes a few hours after Discovery Inc, which is set to soon close its acquisition of WarnerMedia, suspended all operations in Russia amid the country’s war on Ukraine.

    According to Variety, Kilar, in a memo to WarnerMedia staff said, “Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, WarnerMedia is pausing all new business operations in Russia. This includes ceasing broadcast of our channels, halting all new content licensing with Russian entities and pausing our planned theatrical and games releases.”

    Previously, along with suspending CNN broadcasts in Russia, WarnerMedia’s production house Warner Bros had halted its plans to release “The Batman” in the country ahead of its planned premiere. Kilar further stated, “We are following this situation closely and future business decisions will be made with that context in mind. Our thoughts in this moment are with  the people of Ukraine.”

    As per the Deadline report, Universal Music has also just announced it ceased operations there, along with McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and others. 

    Amazon will be shutting off Amazon Prime in Russia and stopping deliveries to the country, according to news agency ANI.

  • CNN+ to accelerate launch in US

    CNN+ to accelerate launch in US

    Mumbai: This one is for those news channel executives and owners in India who don’t seem to have the confidence to launch their own streaming services. Cable TV news pioneer CNN – part of the WarnerMedia (now WarnerBros.Discovery) group, is working on its OTT service called – what else do you expect –CNN+, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

    The platform is likely to be subscription driven and launch plans are being speeded up to allow it to debut much before the merger between CNN owner Warner Media and Discovery gets completed and the combined media behemoth resurfaces as Warner Bros.Discovery.

    CNN+ has signed up deals with its prime anchors led by Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon to create new programmes – aside from the ones they have on the cable TV news service – , offering them higher packages, and possibly even bonuses related to subscriber growth.

    Rivals such as Fox News got into the streaming fray 18 months ago as Fox Nation, offering differentiated programming than what is served on the network. Subscription numbers are just in the hundreds of thousands, but the new streamer has helped the Murdoch owned news service stay relevant to a new generation of digital first customers.

    The Comcast owned streamer Peacock, also has given space to programmes from sister news services MSNBC and CNBC, as has the Viacom owned Paramount+ which has news shows such as 60 minutes  from its CBS News operation.

    Will Indian news channel leaders take a cue from the bustle of activity taking place in the US and also launch their own streaming services? So far they have been happy have a meek presence with their online web site avatars or have their linear channels streamed on other OTTs such as Disney+Hotstar or Zee5. It’s over to the news channel managements.

  • CNN’s ‘Reconnect’ explores the culinary map of India

    CNN’s ‘Reconnect’ explores the culinary map of India

    While the global pandemic has left many unable to travel, an international community of Indian chefs is championing the many tastes of India from afar by bringing the food of their hometowns to some of the world’s finest restaurants. This month, in a 30-minute-special, CNN’s ‘Reconnect’ delves into this rich and diverse nation through the eyes and dishes of India’s culinary pioneers.

    For chef Palash Mitra, cooking Bengali fish curry, or macher jhol, is the one thing that never fails to take him back to his hometown of Kolkata. The city is renowned for its colourful festivals including the Durga Puja. This year with festivities forced to go virtual, food became a way for Mitra to celebrate his heritage from afar. In his Michelin-starred restaurant in Hong Kong, he has been serving up Kolkata traditions to a whole new audience.   

    In a village just outside of the Northern Indian city of Chandigarh, chef Jessi Singh grew up living the true farm to table experience. Singh would milk the buffalo, churn the milk, and spread the ghee on home-baked bread. CNN learns how the now Melbourne-based chef is bringing this fresh philosophy to his family of restaurants, by serving up dishes that pay homage to his relatives and village upbringing.

    Chef Garima Arora is the first and only female Indian chef to earn a Michelin star, and was rated Asia’s top female chef in 2019. But beyond her accolades, Arora is also spotlighting India’s uncharted culinary diversity through her non-profit organization, ‘Food Forward India’. Last year, Arora and her team committed to mapping out the cuisine of every state in the country. She started with Telangana, the state she was born in, finding inspiration for several new dishes at her restaurant in Bangkok.

    Growing up in Delhi, chef Kuldeep Negi learned his craft from the colourful food and spice stalls of the centuries old Chandni Chowk market. Today, Negi is keeping the essence of Delhi’s bazaars alive at his renowned restaurant in Singapore. One of his best-sellers is tandoori prawns, which celebrates the distinctive smoky flavours of Delhi’s tandoors alongside the fresh ingredients available in his new home.

    For chef Deepanker Khosla, mutton biriyani brings back memories of his childhood in the Uttar Pradesh city of Prayagraj. Inspired by his home, Khosla built a sustainable restaurant in the heart of Bangkok. The restaurant farm conserves rainwater to raise hundreds of fish and over 40 varieties of plants. When the pandemic put restaurant dining on pause, Khosla began serving up his signature biryani to 15 different communities each day.

    Airtimes for 30-minute special:

    Saturday, December 26 at 4:30pm IST

    Sunday, December 27 at 10.30pm IST

  • CNN-News18 bolsters weekend line-up with ‘The Right Perspective’

    CNN-News18 bolsters weekend line-up with ‘The Right Perspective’

    NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has strengthened its weekend programming line-up with the launch of The Right Perspective. Anchored by executive editor Anand Narasimhan, the show will air every Saturday at 10 PM. 

    The Right Perspective will witness in-depth and riveting conversations on the real issues of real India. With an aim to provide its viewers with the most extensive reportage on policy and reforms, Narasimhan will lead the discussions with clear and insightful information exploring various facets. The show will drive dialogues and present the right perspective on burning topics such as farmers’ protest, Jammu and Kashmir land reform, social and economic progress etc.

    “In these extraordinary times, CNN-News18, as part of Network18, seeks to highlight the network’s commitment to helping keep the nation informed by providing viewers with fact-based reportage and comprehensive analysis with a 360-degree view of the major news stories,” the channel said in a statement.

  • CNN remains outside of the impact of TRP measurement systems: Abhijeet Dhar

    CNN remains outside of the impact of TRP measurement systems: Abhijeet Dhar

    NEW DELHI: The theatrics surrounding the alleged manipulation of TRP by some of the top channels has prompted BARC to temporarily dismiss data sharing for the news genre, leaving an already unsatisfied community of leaders worrying further. While some players are taking it as an opportunity to reconsider their programming strategies and content, a few have again highlighted their points of contention for the existing measurement system. 

    However, in a recent exclusive conversation with Indiantelevision.com, CNN International director – sales South Asia Abhijeet Dhar claimed that the organisation has maintained a distance from the TRP rat race, and therefore, remains unimpacted by BARC’s decision. 

    He said, “CNN has been in India for a long time and has always strived to remain outside of this (measurement) system; earlier, there was TAM and now there is BARC. I think we are vaccinated and immune in that regard. Our approach to working with clients has been very different and we will continue to work in the same manner.”

    Dhar added that CNN’s approach to any client conversation is keeping the audience at the centre of everything and where the advertising message is supposed to be reaching. 

    “For us, the audience has always been at the heart of everything we do, be it editorial or sales. There is a big task force that sits with the client and discusses with them premium content, cross-platform initiatives, and the best narratives to reach the right audience. Everything is then curated basis the client brief.” 

    He asserted that they do not work with a sales-centred approach as it will be unfair to the audience. “Even as a sales team, CNN is very particular that we remain accurate and serve only the accurate information to our viewers,” he said. 

    But in the charged and manipulative environment of today, where so many advertisers and agencies are reconsidering their presence on several news channels, how does he ensure that advertiser interest remains intact in CNN?

    To this, Dhar has a very simple answer, “For us, the most valued asset is our audience; irrespective of the platform they are on, or the geographic location they come from. Our intent, with our editorial content too, remains to enhance the audience experience and give them a global perspective to the news. So, our clients also get a chance to optimise their content as our partners. That helps them too, in establishing a good connect with the right audience.” 

    This strategy helped Dhar and CNN sail through the tough times of the pandemic-induced lockdown of the past few months. 

    “CNN has always been at the forefront of advertiser movement. It comes naturally to us and that remains prevalent in the pandemic too. We have realised with various studies that advertising is very important for brands in this period as well and for certain categories, like biztech, home entertainment, the period ensured good growth. So, we became a preferred choice for them,” he explained. 

    Dhar is positive that from here on out, advertising trends will only be on the up and up. “There is austerity fatigue among most of the Indian consumers and the clients too. I think, with the festive season, we will see more people spending and I am positive about the coming quarter,” he signed off.  

  • CNN’s As Equals series expands with new three-year grant

    CNN’s As Equals series expands with new three-year grant

    MUMBAI: CNN’s award-winning As Equals series is expanding with a new three-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This grant will support CNN’s reporting on gender inequality with a particular focus on the world’s least-developed countries and increased programming about the adversities women and girls around the world endure every day.

    As Equals was launched in January 2018 to underscore the acute inequalities and injustices facing women and girls from countries in the global south. Its reporting has prompted real-life impact including the commuted death sentence of teenage bride Noura Hussein and Rwandan opposition politician Diane Rwigara’s release from jail.

    CNN will form a dedicated team, including six new hires, to work exclusively on gender inequality for As Equals and build out a global network with key regional partners to tell these stories from around the globe.

    Women and girls are often the biggest casualties of crises. Already, Covid2019 has led to spikes in gender-based violence and restrictions in access to family planning, while warnings have been issued about the large numbers of girls who may not return to school and the corresponding increase in child marriages that will likely come from that. As the crisis continues, As Equals will keep the spotlight firmly on women’s issues as part of the global recovery efforts, including their involvement in decision making.

    Through an unwavering commitment to elevate underrepresented voices and empower women journalists, the series has received accolades recognizing its stand-out work in advancing taboo subjects, innovative presentation and impactful storytelling affecting change. The compelling reporting that’s been honoured includes an investigation that revealed the Kenyan government’s pledge to send a mission to investigate substantial allegations of abuse and wrongdoing in the country’s Beirut consulate, and an interactive calculator to understand period poverty.

  • Keep the content debate out of TRP manipulation: Zakka Jacob

    Keep the content debate out of TRP manipulation: Zakka Jacob

    NEW DELHI: One of the most reliable voices on prime time news television for the past decade, Zakka Jacob is a unique breed of journalist in today’s high-decibel newsrooms; the executive editor of CNN-News 18, Jacob is known as the ‘thinking man’s journalist’ for a reason. The man is admittedly trying his best to cater to the unique needs of his channel’s audience that likes to miss a few shouting matches and wants balanced coverage on any topic and present a holistic news cycle covering every topic.

    In a candid conversation with Indiantelevision.com’s Mansi Sharma, the award-winning anchor discussed in detail his journey in the news world, how he sees the new era of journalism, and how he plans to stay true to his own and CNN’s brand. Edited excerpts follow:

    On his tryst with journalism

    Journalism was not something that I had planned to do or was aspiring to do. It just happened. I was born and raised in Chennai and like every other guy growing up there, I had two career options insight; either be a doctor or an engineer. I wasn’t bright enough to study biology so I chose PCM, and did my engineering. Now, again as an engineer, I had two options; head to the US or get into the IT field. And I wasn’t really interested in either at that time. In fact, I couldn’t do coding to save my life. 

    It so happened that I was always an active participant of the cultural groups at my school and college. I used to participate in quizzes, debates and won a few competitions too. So, when there was an opportunity to audition for the post of a radio presenter at All India Radio, I went for the auditions and got selected. From there, I got introduced to a few friends who informed me that Sun News was hiring and I joined them. I moved to Delhi after college and joined Headlines Today in 2003. That’s where it all started.

    On his early days in the industry

    Yes, I did not have any professional training but at that time, I feel, it was easier to get into the field of journalism. All you needed to have was a lot of curiosity about the world and the willingness to learn. 

    I remember when I moved to Delhi, a friend of mine had made me meet S Srinivasan as they were hiring fresh faces at Headlines Today. It was one of the two English language news channels then and I had thought that I would not make it. Because I did not fit the bill; they were looking for young and glamorous boys and girls. Srinivasan had even asked me why an engineer like me wants to be a journalist. But he definitely saw something in me, to this date I don’t know what that was. Maybe I was this enthusiastic young kid for them. When Uday Shankar interviewed me, he had told me that if you really want to do it then you will have to be in the business for many years. And so I have been here. 

    Yes, the initial few months were difficult. I was either doing late-night shifts or hosting the early morning show at 6-7 am and then an accomplished anchor would take on. Also, it was November and being from Chennai, I had never experienced winters. So, doing this job, late-night shifts in winters, everything was challenging. But I was lucky that I got mentors like Srinivasan and G Krishnan, and a lot of friends who were also new to journalism. It was quite exciting as well. 

    On his role models and inspirations

    When I had started, the top three names in the Indian news industry were BarkhaDutt, Rajdeep Sardesai, and Arnab Goswami. I obviously watched them a lot. And then there were people — I won’t say I wanted to imitate them but I did learn a lot watching them and maybe subconsciously had a lot of impact on my personal style of reporting — like Tim Sebastian and Stephen Cole of the BBC. 

    On his favourite coverages

    There are many events that come to my mind but the three that are very close to my heart were the 2004 general election. It was the first general election that I covered and the outcome of it was very surprising. Everyone was expecting Vajpayee to come back but that did not happen. The other one was the tsunami that happened at the end of the same year. Those were the places where I had spent my childhood and everything was gutted, devastated. That left a huge impact on me, personally. 

    Also, the 26/11 attacks; that was not just another terrorist attack. The siege went on for days altogether. I remember we spent 100 hours straight in the office. We were covering everything live. People used to nap for a few minutes within the office and then get back to work. Additionally, it was great learning for all of us as journalists as to what we can show on live television and how to report on such incidents. 

    On the new emotionally-driven reporting style of TV news

    Personally, I get some of the outrages that are happening. In India, right now, people are genuinely concerned and angry; be it the services, or the condition of the cities, or Covid, there are enough reasons for the citizens to be angry. And at some level, they (newsreaders) are trying to convey the same. That’s okay. 

    But what has happened of late is that there has been made a division on ideological lines; some journalists are called left-leaning, some are called right-leaning, some are accused of favouring the ruling party. I don’t like such labelling. At the end of it, it is about bringing stories that matter, that impact people. That’s what this profession is all about. 

    The involvement of politics in news is nothing new. It is the reflection of how society is. What journalists and editors should try to do is be honest and non-partisan. They need to be true to the story. I am okay with a few talk shows, chat shows, or prime time debates to have some sort of views or ideologies. But at the end of the day, show stories that matter, be true to the coverage. 

    On the new programming style of channels

    To a certain extent, yes the channels are spending a lot of time on one single story. But channels spend an inordinate amount of time on one story because the ratings (TRP) is the function of two things; the number of people who are watching a channel, and the amount of time they are spending. So, if we are able to maintain the viewers’ interest, they will watch the channel for longer. It, therefore, happens in the case of developing stories that channels spend a lot of time on the same topic; be it the Sushant Singh Rajput case or the Hathras case. But we must know how to aggregate it. 

    On TRP manipulation

    See, it’s a matter of investigation. And I keep saying one thing, I also said it on my show the day the story broke that we need to separate the content part out of this issue. The content is not the debate here. You always have the choice to change a channel if you are not liking its content. The fundamental issue here is the integrity of the process with which these ratings are measured and that needs to be addressed. 

    On advertisers pulling out ad monies from certain channels

    I support them (the advertisers) completely. Ultimately an advertiser is paying money for their particular products to be shown based on the ratings. And they are impacted the most if the TRP is manipulated.

    On challenges facing the TV news industry

    I think that the biggest challenge, about which even we were worried till six months back, is people tuning out of television. The biggest pressure, therefore, remains the ratings pressure. But I think that people are coming back to television. For any developing story, any breaking story, no other medium can cover it better than television. People are realising that and they are coming back to television. But the challenge will remain to have the viewers stay with us. 

    On CNN's editorial strategy

    I think we have realised over time that our audience doesn’t like shouting matches. Even a slight change in our reportage results in a dip in our viewership. The channel is known for our stories and presentation and our viewer knows that. So, we stick to the stories that we do best. We have to stay true to our viewers. 

    Advice to young journalists

    For me, the most important factor is the curiosity to learn, to grow. So, be curious about the news, know what is happening in the world around you. Also, read at least five newspapers on a daily basis; preferably one foreign, one regional, and three national sources. Most importantly, keep an open mind. Don’t come in journalism because you want to be the next BarkhaDutt or the next Arnab Goswami. Come into journalism because you want to tell the little guy’s story. These days it is important to go to a good J-school, but that’s not a deal-breaker for me.