News Broadcasting
IBF plea to TRAI: leave revenue aspects to market forces
NEW DELHI: It’s jockeying that’s going on big time as the different stakeholders try to get their point across to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) today expectedly made a strong case in front of the regulator to let “market forces decide” revenue aspects, instead of mandating them, and suggesting that conditional access system be “properly test-marketed before full rollout.”
This presentation was made slightly before the cable industry was to go into a meeting with TRAI officials later in the day.
In a lengthy presentation made a short while ago, the IBF conveyed to the TRAI that the interim price freeze of cable services has created confusion, opening avenues of “potential litigation” between stakeholders.
The IBF presentation, a copy of which is available with the indiantelevision.com, says that the regulator should not step in where revenue share arrangements are to be formalised as such things are “best left to market forces.”
On possible restrictions on ad time on pay channels, the IBF has pointed out that the regulator should follow a model that is similar to the print medium as it would be “impractical to lay down standards for compliance.”
It has added further that such restrictions of revenue streams would hamper growth and competition in the broadcast industry and increase cost to consumer. “Avoid administered pricing,” the IBF has said in its presentation.
Dropping ample hints that the cable industry is to be blamed for the CAS imbroglio, the IBF has said that CAS is just one of the platforms for consumer addressability and transparency and not the ultimate one.
The IBF has also implied that cable ops should provide boxes as an investment to protect acquisition of a consumer, implying that boxes should be given free of cost by the cable industry.
For more on this, stay tuned.
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.
