News Broadcasting
DD may commission news shows from panel of producers
NEW DELHI: The Prasar Bharati board, which met here yesterday, has decided that Doordarshan should go in for narrowcasting by tying up with organisations like NGOs and agriculture universities.
The board also decided that while commissioning of programmes should be started again, a panel of producers should be set up to whom news and current affairs programming can be commissioned. This panel is likely to include those who have produced N&CA-based programming for DD like BAG Films, Rajat Sharma’s IMPL and Nalini Singh.
The board also discussed other issues that included recovery of money from those private agencies and producers who owe DD money running into crores of rupees and the sponsorship-related controversy that is threatening the cricket world, and the bonus scheme for bulk advertisers.
Where narrowcasting is concerned, DD has floated this scheme where it will tie up with agriculture universities like the Hissar Agriculture University (negotiations completed) for agriculture-related programmes to be made by these organisations for telecast on DD’s various regional channels or meant for local viewing. “A DD centre ready for such narrowcasting is Bellary,” a member of the Prasar Bharati board told indiantelevision.com, adding that this is part of Prasar Bharati’s efforts to live up to its image of a pubcaster.
The board, according to Prasar Bharati sources, took note of the sponsorship controversy which has engulfed the cricketing world and its implications if some top cricketers from India like Sachin Tendulkar and other countries do not participate in the ICC-organsised cricket tournaments because of their personal sponsorship deals.
“What can bother DD is that if top cricketers do not participate in the upcoming cricket tournament, then the commercial value of such matches may go down and the marketing of such matches may become a problem,” the Prasar Bharati board member said.
Though DD is fairly protected against such upheavals, the Board nevertheless took note of the controversy and its financial implications if any.
On the recovery of money owed to DD, the errant producers had suggested that DD adjusts the outstanding against them for new programming. However, a final decision on this issue could not be taken by the board at its meeting yesterday.
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.
