New York, April 27: Indian-American publishing group Parikh Worldwide Media (PWM) has acquired ITV Gold cable TV channel with plans to enter the Indian media market.
Announcing the acquisition here on Thursday, PWM Chairman Sudhir Parikh, said: "We will have tie-ups with digital platforms in India to launch ITV Gold before we penetrate the cable markets there with informative news shows and programs that will give insight into the Indian diaspora and their issues in the US."
With the acquisition of ITV Gold, PWM now has a presence in print, online and electronic media making it a premier Indian-American media house, a company statement said.
Launched in 1985, New York-based ITV Gold (International Television Broadcasting) is the first 24A-7 cable TV channel in the US to deliver news about India, Indian-Americans and South Asians, according to the PWM news release.
ITV Gold portfolio includes Vision of Asia that was started in 1976 and is the longest-running Indian-American TV programme in the US.
New York-headquartered PWM publishes four weekly newspapers -- the national publication, News India Times; two regional publications from New York and Chicago, Desi Talk, and the Gujarati language Gujarat Times -- and an online magazine, Indian American.
It also publishes an in-depth opinion and policy journal, India Global Review, in association with the Parikh Foundation for India's Global Development.
Parikh is a physician who has received the Padma Shri award and led major Indian-American organisations, including the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and the Indian American Forum for Public Education (IAFPE).
"ITV Gold has solid brand value and a massive following in the Indian-American, South Asian, and Indo-Caribbean market and we plan to give more community news and local events coverage with the combination of print and television connecting viewers to matters that affect them here in the US and in India," Parikh said.
Deepak Viswanath, son of ITV Gold's late founder, Banad Viswanath, said: "This partnership combines the strength of two well established and respected Indian American Media. It is a launching pad to expand the channel on new platforms across the US."
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Surjewala slams Pratap Simha’s ‘vile’ remarks on CM Siddaramaiah, demands apology from BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over alleged disparaging remarks made by former Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during an assembly bypoll campaign in Bagalkote.
Simha made the remarks while campaigning for BJP candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath, triggering a political row ahead of the by-elections scheduled for April 9.
Congress has fielded Umesh Meti, son of former MLA late M Y Meti, whose death necessitated the bye-election.
"Pratap Simha's vile remarks about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot have exposed the BJP's despicable politics once again," Surjewala said in a social media post.
Alleging a larger political design, he added, "It is increasingly evident that Pratap Simha’s outburst is driven by desperation," and accused the BJP of using such remarks to target backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities.
The Rajya Sabha member further claimed that the incident reflects a pattern within the party. "This is not one man's madness—it is the BJP’s political culture," he said, adding that the remarks were aimed at "denigrating leaders from marginalised communities".
Referring to past incidents, Surjewala said, "CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have received death threats in the past, including one from BJP leaders who warned that their bodies would be stuffed into a refrigerator."
The Congress leader also criticised the BJP’s bypoll campaign strategy, alleging "internal contradictions".
He pointed to the party’s use of expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in campaigning despite earlier disciplinary action against him, accusing the BJP of resorting to "abuses and indignities" against opposition leaders.
Surjewala demanded immediate action from the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state president B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.
He said they must tender a public apology to Kannadigas, particularly to OBCs, SCs, and minorities, over the remarks, and urged the party to expel Simha if it does not repudiate his statements.
Surjewala also called for legal action, demanding that an FIR be registered against Simha and that strict measures be taken.
Warning of "political consequences", he said the electorate in the bypoll-bound constituencies would respond decisively if the BJP failed to apologise, asserting that voters would "teach the BJP a befitting lesson" in the elections.
There has been no immediate reaction from the saffron party yet.
