CNN has its Eye On India

Thursday, 02 September 2004, 19:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: International broadcast giant CNN is set to host a India special week showcasing the many facets of this country from Bollywood to biotech. In a special series called "Eye On India" beginning Sunday, CNN would have a host of programmes based on India -- from a live televised debate on outsourcing to profiles of Hindi cinema superstar Shahrukh Khan as well as biotechnology entrepreneur and one of India's richest women, Kiron Mazumdar-Shaw. "We want to bring to the world various facets of this extraordinary country, its people and progress," said CNN international managing director Chris Cramer. "This series is targeted at all those people interested in the growing importance of the region and the investment opportunities that it offers," Cramer added. Though outsourcing is a major debate issue in the ongoing campaigning for the US general elections, Cramer said that was not the reason for special focus on the issue. "The outsourcing debate affects a wide variety of people and cultures and issues. Narrowing it down to just the polls wouldn't be correct," said Cramer. The live debate would be hosted from New Delhi by CNN star anchor Jim Clancy. The channel would also air award-winning documentary filmmaker Thomas Friedman's new film on outsourcing. The India theme week, for which one of the main sponsors is India's Oberoi group of hotels, would have intensive analysis and features on the Indian economy, markets, people and culture. Clancy's programme for instance would have a studio audience in New Delhi and an expert panel from New Delhi and Washington. "With 19 hotels and resorts across the world, this is just the sort of platform and programme we believe the Oberoi should be part of," said Vikram Oberoi, deputy managing director of Oberoi Hotels & Resorts. CNN is also looking to have an India specific channel as part of what Cramer called "the logical extension of the brand" but nothing has been finalised yet. The country's importance in the network's coverage can be judged by the fact that the New Delhi bureau of CNN has already filed over 150 stories from the country. "The bureau here is one of the busiest and the most technologically advanced in the world and we think that it is definitely one of our priorities," said Cramer.
Source: IANS
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