News Broadcasting
CNBC asserts lead over NDTV 24×7 among affluent adult males
MUMBAI: The ratings war is well and truly joined. Three days after NDTV’s new business channel NDTV Profit asserted it had toppled market leader CNBC-TV18 in viewership among business news channels, comes the riposte.
A release issued by the business news channel leader reaffirms a position it had taken at the outset in response to the assertions made by NDTV Profit of overtaking CNBC-TV18 if a C&S 4+ all India market was taken as the sampling TG. Quoting the latest TAM data (22-29 January), CNBC claims pole position among English news channels at 36 per cent channel share among of 25+ males in SEC AB. That is even ahead of Profit’s English news channel sibling NDTV 24×7, which has a 33 per cent share. And where does Profit figure in this listing? In the fourth position with a 9 per cent channel share just behind Headlines Today at 11 per cent.
Interestingly, CNBC’s argument is validated by Ravi Kiran, managing director, West/South Starcom Mediavest, who says, “As a media planner, this (the TG that CNBC has used) represents to me the core viewership of an English news channel.”
Elaborating further on the trends the data threw, Sai Kumar, vice-president, CNBC-TV18 says, “Also noteworthy is the potential of the business television space; going by the fact that within a month of its launch NDTV Profit has managed to get a 9 per cent share. We are confident, that Awaaz, our consumer channel in Hindi will exploit this potential even further.
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.
