News Broadcasting
Doordarshan invests Rs 300 million on Indian classics
MUMBAI: In order to sustain viewers interest, Doordarshan has commissioned creative producers for making programmes in the selected genre of Indian classics, children’s literature, art and culture, humour and environment.
Accordingly, an investment of Rs 300 million has been made to produce nearly 800 half-an-hour episodes on Indian classics in 15 languages including Kashmiri.
“We have assigned prominent creative producers to create serials on some of the popular Indian literary classics. Prasar Bharati is spending about Rs 300 million on this project. DD has already started telecasting the series under Katha Sarita,” Doordarshan director general Navin Kumar told indiantelevision.com on the sidelines of a press conference organised to announce the initiative.
The works of eminent authors under Indian Classic series have been selected by the Core Committee on Indian Classics under the Chairpersonship of Prasar Bharati board member Chitra Mudgal. The Committee took into consideration Sahitya Academy Award winning books, Jnanpeeth Award winning writers and other eminent classics.
Some of the eminent authors whose works are being featured under Indian classics include Agyayae, Jainender Kumar, Hari Shankar Parasai, Himanshu Joshi, Shivani, Manjul Bhagat, Ila Chand Joshi, Ghalib, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Kaifi Azmi, Kishan Chandra, Manoj Basu, Tara Shankar Bandhopadhyay, T Shivashankar Pillai, Cho Ramaswamy and Kalhan.
Eminent / award winning producers who have been assigned to do the programmes under the scheme include Shyam Bengal, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Girish Karnad, Amol Palekar, Muzafffar Ali, T S Narasimhan, Sagar Saharadi, Jahnu Barooah, Gautam Ghosh, A K Bir, Jyoti Swarup, Kamini Kaushal, Naresh Bedi, Benoy K Behl, Mike Pandey, Farooq Masoodi, Preeti Sapru, Suhasini Mulay, Kalpana Lazmi and Manju Singh.
DD 1 has already started telecasting the Katha Sarita series from 14 May. The series has been placed in the Sunday 11 am slot. Each classic will have a 13 episode run.
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.
