News Broadcasting
Good growth seen in the telephony service subscriber base
NEW DELHI: The subscriber base for telephony services has continued to maintain its general growth, during the month of April. During the month, approximately 1.65 million subscribers were added, which included around 0.3 million fixed lines and 1.35 million mobile subscribers.
Thus, while there was some drop in the growth rate of mobile customers, the overall subscriber growth has been broadly maintained on account of an increase in the growth of fixed lines, says a statement from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). In addition, the statement also offered that an interaction with the broadcast and cable industry will be held on 11 may to discuss issues regarding FM radio and unified licence issues.
During April 2004, 1.35 million mobile subscribers have been added raising the total number of mobile subscribers to around 35 million. Overall growth of telephony subscribers during the month was 2.5 times the same during the corresponding month last year. Growth of mobile subscribers during April 2004 over the corresponding month of last year (April 2003) was more than twice.
At the end of April 2004, total fixed lines have reached the figure of around 43 million and mobiles are around 35 million, making a total of telephony subscribers in the country to around 78 million.
(Subscribers in millions)
|
2003 |
2004 |
|||||
|
Category |
March |
April |
Additions during the month |
March |
April |
Additions duringthe month |
|
Mobile |
13.0 |
13.67 |
0.67 |
33.60 |
34.95 |
1.35 |
|
Fixed |
41.48 |
41.45 |
(-0.03) |
42.58 |
42.88 |
0.30 |
|
Total Subscribers |
54.48 |
55.12 |
0.64 |
76.18 |
77.83 |
1.65 |
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.
