News Broadcasting
DD’s summer bonanza for kids: ‘Bongo’
MUMBAI: No surprise here. Summer time is children’s time and the pubcaster is all geared to set the ball rolling.
DD will kick start it’s summer special with a new show for kids- Bongo. Boasting of special effects like 2D and 3D animation characters interacting with real human actors, the show is scheduled to air on Sundays at 12:30 pm.
Produced by Deepak Punjabi, Harish Punjabi and Sanjay Punjabi of Rudrakshaa Arts, Bongo’s cast includes Lalit Parimoo, Sooraj Thapar, Swapnil Joshi, Sushmita Dann, Raj Kanojiya, Yash Sinha, Flavin, Master Shadaab, Master Smit, Shammi and the animation character Bongo.
On the unidentified planet Zapata, the species are far more advanced. One day, some dangerous forces threaten the planet’s peace. The solution to ward off this danger lies on Earth. The King of Zapata summons his young and dynamic soldier Bongo. On Earth, a 10-year old boy Sunny is researching on Aliens. Sunny and Bongo become true friends, but Sunny is unaware of Bongo’s mission. What happens next forms the crux of Bongo’s story.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com at a press conference in Mumbai last evening, the Punjabi trio offered, “For this programme, we didn’t try hard for pitching it on other channels. We would like to keep the rights of our first baby. But we are virtually ready with three more projects – Kajri, Little Hero Bharat and Captain. Talks to put up these serials on satellite channels during the course of this year are on.”
Punjabis added that they were optimistic about Bongo’s success because it had been slotted immediately after Shaktiman. “It should get a good spill over audience,” said Sanjay Punjabi.
Punjabis are ready with 13 episodes of Bongo and have been granted a permission of 26 episodes. “We would love to carry it on till 104 episodes,” they concluded.
No prizes for guessing that the Punjabi trio is trying to cash in on the success of Rakesh Roshan’s super-duper hit Koi Mil Gaya. Whether they can manage to spill over the big screen craze on the small one remains to be seen.
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.
