News Broadcasting
HTA beats seven agencies to bag HPCL accounts
Hindustan Thompson Associates (HTA) India’s largest advertising agency, has won Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (HPCL) advertising accounts of Retail, LPG and Lubricants’ Strategic Business Units (SBUs) in a competitive pitch.
The other advertising agencies which pitched for the account were Mudra Communications, Lowe Lintas, Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi, FCB-Ulka, MaCann-Erickson and Madison Communications, an official release says. HTA has also won the Godrej Appliances’ refrigerators business and the Frito-Lay India account recently. The HPCL account and the Godrej Appliances’ refrigerators account will be serviced and managed from HTA’s Mumbai office while the Frito-Lay’s account will be serviced out of HTA’s Delhi office. The estimated billings of these new accounts amount to Rs 450-500 million annually.
These new business wins closely follow HTA’s award run where the advertising agency was named “National Agency of the Year” by the Calcutta Advertising Club. At the same function, HTA won 17 awards for various brand campaigns such as Close Up, Pepsi, Ford IKON, Horlicks, Spice Bangalore, Parry’s Confectionery and VLCC. Additionally, at the AAA Awards function in Mumbai last month, HTA walked away with 7 awards including the Gold award for the best TV spot for Close-Up, the release states.
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.
