News Broadcasting
India Today Group breaks language barriers with PM’s interview in six languages
Mumbai: India Today Group pioneered the concept of an AI Anchor Sana, creating a revolution in the media industry. Sana’s lifelike presence captivated audiences. Taking the next big step in utilising AI for news, the India Today Group has utilised AI to translate PM Narendra Modi’s interview to the network into six diverse languages – Marathi, Punjabi, Bangla, Bhojpuri, English and Odia, instantly breaking multiple languages barriers and ensuring access across regional audiences. This groundbreaking move showcased AI’s potential in democratising information and bridging linguistic barriers, solidifying the group’s commitment to innovation and inclusivity.
The AI step comes in a week when the PM gave three separate interviews to the network — not seen so far in his tenure, and a major affirmation to the country’s only democratic newsroom.
The interview hashtag #SabseSolidModiInterview surged to the top spot on X’s (Formerly Twitter) trending list, reflecting widespread interest and discussion surrounding the PM’s interaction (Source: X| Trending Hashtags| Political– Trending| #SabseSolidModiInterview). The interview attracted a staggering 1.16 lakh peak concurrent viewers on YouTube Live, underscoring the immense viewership it commanded during the broadcast on May 16th, 2024 (Source: YT Live | All Feeds | 16 May’24 | 7 PM to 8.40 PM).
The PM’s interview’s reach extended beyond real-time viewership, generating over 1 million actions on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter from 16th May to 19th May (Source: Comscore Social). The hashtags #SabseSolidPMInterview and #SabseSolidModiInterview was pivotal in this engagement. Additionally, the interview accumulated more than 30 million video views and reel plays across YouTube, Facebook, X, and Instagram within the same period, showcasing its extensive impact and popularity (Source: Comscore Social and Instagram). Additionally, translated interviews broke records and got an immense interaction with the regional audience, interviews were shared by official party channels and many prominent political leaders. These impressive statistics underscore the interview’s far-reaching impact and its ability to connect with viewers on a massive scale.
In an exclusive interview with a distinguished panel of star network anchors and editors Rahul Kanwal, Sudhir Chaudhary, Sweta Singh, and Anjana Om Kashyap, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his profound readiness to lead the country for another term, then went on the answer every big question that’s been on the national mind.
The Prime Minister shed light on his perspectives regarding the absence of a global news channel originating from India. He remarked, “If more global TV channels like AajTak are created, I would be the first one to applaud. It’s surprising that even after 75 years of independence, not one global news channel from our country has emerged.”
Making a special mention of the India Today group, the Prime Minister said, “I expect that AajTak and its editors can study and showcase the real extent of elections.” The group is known for its in-depth interviews with senior politicians, celebrities, and influential figures. The Group’s celebrated channels, India Today TV and AajTak, dominate the Indian elections news coverage with robust analysis by experts, pre and post-elections.
As the elections draw to a close, the PM revealed his favourite moment in the current cycle — record voting in the Kashmir Valley, a trend he sees as springing from the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
In a political season where the PM has given an array of interviews, the India Today Group’s interaction stands out, as not only the most discussed and shared interview but also, with the potential to reach out to the largest audience.
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.
