News Broadcasting
Apurva Purohit to head Times TV project
MUMBAI: Apurva Purohit, the soon to be former employee of the Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms, is joining the Times Group as head of its television project.
Purohit is currently serving out her notice following her resignation as Zee TV president last month and has her last day at the office on 31 January.
When contacted by indiantelevision.com Purohit said, “The final details would be known when I reach there. But my repsonsibilities would include charting out positioning of the entertainment channel(s), detailing the distribution aspects and other things that go to make a TV channel a reality.”
Though Purohit was not ready to spelll out the details, Times sources that as the COO of the TV venture, she would be responsible for more than one channel – one entertainment and one news channel, initially. Purohit, who’ll be reporting to Bennet, Coleman & Co. Ltd. executive director Arun Arora, also did not spell out a time frame for the launch of the proposed channel(s).
“Those things would become clear once I join formally,” she added. Though Purohit’s notice period at Zee Telefilms runs through January till the 31st, industry sources indicated that she’s trying to work out a deal whereby Subhash Chandra’s company lets go of her before the deadline so that she’d get some time off before she plunges headlong again into the media business, probably, from February.
According to the information available with indiantelevision.com, Times Group managing director Vineet Jain is quite gung ho about the TV project and has reportedly pushed the effort into high gear. Some alliance with a UK-based broadcaster is also being talked about in this regard.
A management graduate from IIM Bangalore, Purohit has been in the advertising and media business for nigh on 17 years. She joined Zee in mid-June 2002 from FCB Ulka’s media unit Lodestar where she was media director. Starting with client servicing, Purohit crossed over to media planning in the mid-90s.
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.
