News Broadcasting
DD’s ‘Pillar of the Nation’ trains its guns on the army today
Border tensions are calling for some hasty programming changes in the subcontinent.
The Beeb has voluntarily put on hold its reality series Commando on the Indian army, bowing to geo political pressures in the region. Doordarshan, on the other hand, will air a special programme today that delves deep into the trying conditions the Indian defence forces operate under. Both programmes, incidentally, have been produced by Miditech, which also makes the adventure reality series Romance Adventure Aaap Aur Hum (Raaah) that premiered on Zee TV on Sunday. Sahara TV is also looking at a series Fateh (victory) which trains its guns on war heroes. However, this is not expected to go on air before February-March.
While Commando, earlier scheduled to premiere in the first week of January, is now likely to take off on 22 January, DD is going ahead with its Pillar of the Nation on Army Day, 15 January. The 30-minute programme to be telecast at 9 pm will expose viewers to the human angle of the army, including the way army doctors operate in Kashmir, tank commanders work in tough terrain in Rajasthan; even Bofors unit commanders in Kargil. Footage of Siachen, Jammu, Poonch, Leh and Jaisalmer will also be shown, while terms like ‘firing along the line of control’ will be explained in terms understandable to the layman. The idea, say the programme producers, is to acquaint the citizen with the life of armymen. Army Day is observed on 15 January every year since 1948, when Lt Gen K M Cariappa was appointed the first Indian Commander in Chief of the forces.
The BBC meanwhile, has to wait some more to air the 13-part docudrama that covers the six-week training course at the Commando Training School in Belgaum, Karnataka, considered one of the toughest in the world. The show was to have given viewers a unique access to the Indian army, although some details of the training have been deleted due to security reasons.
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.
