TED and Star India will collaborate to launch a new Hindi talk show – called TED Talks India: Nayi Soch – on the latter’s platform, hosted by Indian actor and producer Shah Rukh Khan, the two companies announced on Thursday. The show will be presented in TED’s signature format, featuring a variety of speakers who will share “big ideas” in a short time, usually 18 minutes or less.
The Hindi term “Nayi Soch” means “new thinking”, which is meant to complement TED’s existing tagline: ideas worth spreading. The New York and Vancouver-headquartered non-profit said this would be the first time it’s pairing with a major network to produce a TV series that brings original TED Talks that aren’t in the English language.
Juliet Blake, head of TV at TED, will serve as executive producer of the series. There aren’t any additional details now, with more to be revealed at the annual TED Conference in Vancouver between April 24-28.
“Star India’s legacy of using television as an instrument of social change, and TED’s unequivocal drive to showcase simple but unique ideas [to] spark debate and conversation are a very powerful combination,” Khan said in a statement. “I believe TED Talks India: Nayi Soch will inspire many minds across India. It is a concept I connected with instantly, as I believe that the media is perhaps the single most powerful vehicle to inspire change.”
In a supporting statement, Blake added: “The sheer size of Star TV’s audience, with more than 650 million viewers, makes this a significant milestone in TED’s ongoing effort to bring big ideas to curious minds. Global television is opening up a new frontier for TED.”
The company’s curator, Chris Anderson, concurred: “It’s incredibly exciting to be bringing TED to India in this form. The country is teeming with imagination and innovation, and we believe this series will tap into that spirit and bring insight and inspiration to many new minds.”
“At Star, we have always believed in pushing the boundaries with new ideas, creativity, and fresh thinking,” said Uday Shankar, chairman & CEO, Star India. “In an age of high volatility, the role of ideas to fuel positive change cannot be overstated.”
TED Talks India: Nayi Soch will air on Star Plus. The episodes will also be available both on Hotstar and the TED website, Star India told us in a statement.
Update 17/2: Added Star India comment on the show's availability via digital platforms.
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