News Broadcasting
Essel Group to expand media education venture
MUMBAI: Subhash Chandra-promoted Essel Group is planning to expand its media education venture, Zee Institute of Media Arts (ZIMA). The company will invest about Rs 350 million in the venture over a period of three years.
“Zima was launched as a high level pilot project and we are planning a major expansion of the project now. We will keep adding new courses to the curriculum apart from bolstering the facilities. The whole process will take at least three years to complete,” states Zee Interactive Learning Systems Ltd (ZILS) CEO Arun Khetan.
According to Khetan, Zima will be trying to position itself as a complete media institute through the new initiatives. “We are looking to introduces courses in the areas of radio, mass communication and various other new media segments evolving. We will be doing training programmes on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) as well,” he says.
Essel Group launched Zima in the banner of ZILS in November 2004, on an initial investment of Rs 30 million. The institute presently offers one year diploma, six months advanced certificate and six months certificate courses in the streams of direction, acting, production, editing, cinematography, writing, sound and animation-visual effects. The fees charged by Zima range from Rs 60,000 to Rs 150,000 depending on the course.
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.
