News Broadcasting
Election ads, growth in subscriber revenue propel TV18 growth in Q1 FY20
MUMBAI: Election advertising and a strong growth in subscription revenue post the implementation of the new tariff order (NTO) has propelled the revenue growth of TV18 in Q1 FY20. The company has witnessed around 10 per cent Y-o-Y revenue growth in the first quarter of FY20.
TV18 Chairman Adil Zainulbhai said, “Our channel brands have witnessed a strong uptake in the new tariff regime which places the consumer even more at the center of the broadcasting business model. Class-leading value, genre-defining content and a pipe-agnostic approach are the tenets which we believe will continue to propel our portfolio forward.”
TV18’s Q1 viewership share in news was 10.1 per cent, up from 9.3 per cent post NTO implementation. The company’s subscription income has received a boost with NTO implementation as well. It is still facing some flux in distribution and viewership, which the company expects to taper away in the near term. General news revenues were buoyed by election-related advertising, especially in Hindi but business news revenue growth has continued to face genre pressures due to weak markets.
The ad-environment has been tepid, led by advertisers paring spends amidst weak markets/macro/regulatory flux, and concentration of advertising around sports. However, news broadcasting benefitted from election-related advertising during the quarter. TV18 expects the environment to pivot as it heads into the festive season.
The company has seen a sharp turnaround in EBITDA. From an EBITDA loss last year, Q1FY20 has seen a major leap in profitability. This has been driven by election-advertising as well as continued reduction in regional news gestation losses, on operating leverage as well as cost controls.
TV18’s entertainment Q1 viewership share declined due to major events driving sports viewership but the entertainment revenue rose 5 per cent amidst weakness in overall ad-spends and a sharp reduction in ad-revenue of channels shifted from FTA to Pay.
In the same quarter, the company launched Colors Gujarati Cinema. It also informed that its regional entertainment channels in Marathi, Gujarati and Kannada movies gained strength in Q1 FY20.
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.
