News Broadcasting
Essel creates single division to handle all corporate communications
NEW DELHI: In a major communications overhaul, the Subhash Chandra-led Essel Group has decided to create a signature group under Corporate Brand Development Group (CBDG) for all the brands in the group as a corporate brand.
Ashish Kaul, till recently the corporate communication head of another Chandra company, ASC Enterprsies, would be heading this newly-formed group at the corporate level as well as for each brand as vice-president. Kaul, who was working with the Agrani group for over four years, has been transferred to Essel Group to lead this mammoth exercise.
This discipline is distinct from the marketing activity currently being handled by the marketing team of each business/brand. This function would be fully operational towards the end of July 2003. The brands that this group will handle will include all Zee brands, Alpha brands, Playwin, Zee Education, Essel World, Water Kingdom, Fun Republic, Essel Propack Ltd., and the Agrani group.
Considering the sheer size of the Essel Group and the number of brands and sub-brands that the group has, it is perhaps the largest communications overhaul exercise ever undertaken by a company of this size.
Essel Group has interests in old and new economy businesses ranging from packaging, theme parks, multiplexes, cable distribution, content/broadcast, telecom infrastructure, IT retailing, satellite infrastructure and wireless services.
Presently, a team is being put in place and preference is being given to nourish and upgrade in-house talent. “The theme of this exercise would be to reach a situation where my communications audit tells me that every individual in the entire group has become a brand ambassador of the group.
We would also strive to streamline the messaging systems of the group and our attempt would be to align the message with experience. This cannot be achieved only by effective external communication management but impetus will be given to developing internal communications in association with the various HR divisions of the group,” Kaul told indiantelevision.com.
Corporate Brand Development Group would be responsible for external and internal communications of the Essel Group. The current arrangements of the group will continue till the transition is completed in a phased manner. Corporate Brand Development would access the needs of each brand and sub-brand within the group and deploy a person or a group of people to service that brand or group of brands. The representatives of these brands would be allocated to respective companies for administrative purposes and policy-wise the CBDG would report directly to Chandra.
In a career spanning about 10 years Kaul has been exposed to telecom, satellite infrastructure, chemicals and petrochemicals, media and IT sectors. As an assistant manager, corporate communications with IndusInd Media ( Hinduja Group ), Kaul has been exposed to various brands like the CVO Movie Channel and Gulf Oil. Apart from media management on national and international level, Kaul has been associated with event management on behalf of his organisations and has been instrumental in launching a Social Communications programme in Uttar Pradesh promoting Social Forestry schemes and Rural medical programmes on behalf of SVC Superchem.
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.
