CNN splits with India partner
June 30, 2015
By Chris Forrester
Global Broadcast News (via its TV18 operation) and CNN-Turner Broadcasting have been partners in supplying India with local and international news, as CNN-IBN, for ten years since 2005. But from January 2016 they will operate independently – and will likely be rivals.
“Network18 has grown from 2 news channels in 2005 to 17 news channels in 2015. Today, we have the largest footprint in the current affairs, regional and business news space in India. The TV18 line-up of channels today are well established and highly regarded in this dynamic, complex and challenging environment,” said A P Parigi, Group CEO, Network18.
Local reports suggest that CNN is in talks with Zee Group/Zee News for a potential partnership for an English-language news station.
Zee itself has a clutch of news channels on air in Hindi, including a business news channel, plus another 8 regional news channels.
However, there are English-language news channels on air in the form of Times Now (from the Times Group), India Today, NDTV 24×7, and NewsX plus two business news channels in English.