News Broadcasting
ASCI upholds complaint against Republic’s TV promo claiming network leadership
MUMBAI: The Fast Track Complaints Panel (FTCP) of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), in a meeting held on 27 March 2019, has upheld a complaint against Republic’s leadership claim of being the country’s largest news network with a reach of 184 million.
The Arnab Goswami-led network’s press note and TV promo with claim of being "India's No. 1 News Network" with "184 Million Viewers" was deemed ‘false and misleading’ by the FTCP after a technical expert and the ASCI secretary general conducted a personal hearing with both the complainant as well as the advertiser representatives.
The FTCP reviewed the channel promo videos, and noted the advertiser’s written response. The details of the complaint and the rationale for claim support was taken into consideration.
“The TV promo was not accompanied with any disclaimer to indicate the source of claim. The TV promo was in contravention of BARC advisory as well as Chapter I.1, I.2, I.4, I.5 and IV. 1 (a) and (b) as well as ASCI guidelines on disclaimers,” read the letter, which has been reviewed by Indiantelevision.com.
Ruling in favour of the complainant, the FTCP said that Republic had selectively picked only a subset of channels of their competitive networks and described these subsets as the “network”.
It noted, “The comparison among networks should include all channel under the common corporate umbrella. Selectively picking and choosing amounts to transgressing Chapter IV.1 (a) and (b).”
Republic in its defence asserted that it has used the data of only one week, i.e. the 10th week of 2019, for the promotional purpose as it had taken them over five weeks to ensure full availability in their addressable market.
FTCP further stated that due to the TRAI tariff order implementation, BARC had informed its subscribers to not use the viewership data for any public communication from week 6 onwards. Republic network’s representative admitted to being aware of the said BARC advisory and assured to adhere to the same during their personal hearing.
The channel indicated compliance and confirmed that the TV promo was a one-time telecast and has been discontinued.
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.
