News Broadcasting
BARC week 27: Not too much impact on English news genre ratings in budget week
BENGALURU: The combined weekly impressions of the top 5 English news channels in week 27 of 2019 (Saturday, 29 June 2019 to Friday, 5 July 2019, week under review) or the week in which the first national budget of the re-elected Modi government was announced increased by just 46,000 or 2.4 percent as compared to the previous week. Data released by Broadcast Audience Research Council of India showed the combined ratings of the top 5 English news channels was 1.964 million weekly impressions in week 27 of 2019 as compared to 1.918 million weekly impressions in week 26.
Four of the five channels in BARC’s top 5 English news channels gained viewership with one losing eyeballs during week 27 of 2019 as compared to the previous week. Even if one were to neglect the channel that lost viewership, combined impressions of the other four channels in BARC’s top 5 English news channels increased by just 6.4 percent or 94,000 in week 27 of 2019 as compared to week 26. Please read on further.
The list and the ranking of the channels in BARC’s weekly list of top English news channels during the week under review was/were the same as in the previous week. No doubt that on budget day, 5 July 2019, a Friday, the ratings of individual channels must have peaked when compared to the previous Friday. Given the facts that the timings of the live telecast of the ICC World Cup 2019 being played at England and Wales overlapped with primetime of most genres in India, and the Indian cricket team was faring well, viewership of genres other than sports on the Star India Network must have fallen. Please refer to the figure below.
At rank 1 was the Arnab Goswami-led Republic TV with 0.629 million weekly impressions in week 27 of 2019 or 8.6 percent more as compared to 0.579 million weekly impressions in week 26. At second rank was Times Now with 0.460 million weekly impressions during the week under review or about 7.5 percent more than 0.428 million weekly impressions as compared to the previous week.
At third rank was pubcaster Doordarshan’s DD India with 0.356 million weekly impressions in week 27 of 2019 or 12.5 percent lower than 0.407 million weekly impressions in week 26. At fourth rank was Network18’s CNN News18 with 0.290 million weekly impressions in week 27 of 2019 or 2.1 percent more than the 0.284 million weekly impressions in week 26. Completing the quintet was the India Today group’s India Today Television with 0.229 million weekly impressions in week 27 of 2019 or 4.1 percent more as compared to 0.220 million weekly impressions in week 26.
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.
