News Broadcasting
Trai likely to issue consultation paper on TV channel aggregators
NEW DELHI: Telecom regulatory authority of India (Trai) chairman Rahul Khullar today indicated that a consultation paper would be issued shortly about the revenue sharing and other issues related to television channel aggregators under the digital addressable system (DAS).
He assured the cable operators present that the meet was on media ownership and he would meet the LCOs separately on their problems.
As expected, the open house on media ownership where he made the announcement turned out to be a general meet of sorts, with cable operators turning up in great numbers to seek answers to questions facing them including those relating to billing and the consumers refusing to pay the high fee, revenue sharing with MSOs and other issues.
Trai had alerted the police in this regard and restricted entry, and the venue saw the presence of a large number of police personnel.
Trai has already directed the pay broadcasters/aggregators and MSOs to produce in writing the terms and conditions of their interconnection agreements with MSOs or other service providers wherever they are providing cable television services through DAS.
Trai had noted that there has been a hue and cry over the last month. And the broadcasters and MSOs have been extremely slothful in signing channel agreements with each other. The regulator took note of this and asked all of them to furnish the names of the MSO or the service provider with whom the interconnection agreement has been entered into along with the service area covered and the validity period of the said agreement by the week beginning 13 May.
It is expected that the consultation paper would be based on the responses received from broadcasters and aggregators by Trai.
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
