News Broadcasting
Indiavision to launch second channel in October
MUMBAI: Malayalam news channel Indiavision will soon have a sibling in a youth-oriented entertainment channel. Indiavision Satellite Communications, promoters of Indiavision, is targeting an October launch for the 24-hour channel.
Indiavision is actually converting its existing music channel, which is a non-entity in the Malayalam television market, to a full-fledged entertainment channel targeting the youth. The company is yet to take a final decision on the logo and name of the new channel as it is awaiting permission from the Information & Broadcasting Ministry on the re-launch.
“We expect to get I & B permission by this month end, after which we will unveil the name and logo of the channel,” Indiavision distribution head Vinod Kumar told indiantelevision.com.
Indiavision had launched its second channel in late 2004 with intentions of making it a lottery channel. But it had to change its plan and make it a music channel following the government restrictions on online lottery. The company, however, concentrated on the news channel and decided to go slow on the music channel.
Indiavision had kicked off its plans to revive the music channel early this year. But the focus got shifted to taking the news channel to the Middle East and beefing up the news operations there. The news channel opened a studio in Dubai Media City last week to beam programmes live. This facility now helps the channel to telecast news bulletins and news-based programmes live from the Gulf.
Now the entertainment channel project takes centre-stage for the company again. Indiavision feels that having a full-fledged second channel will solve its distribution issues since Indiavision news channel is yet to get a nationwide presence on cable networks. The company is planning to launch the entertainment channel in the Gulf as well.
“Having a bouquet of two channels can change the equation on the distribution front. We have already started out talks with cable operators in Mumbai and Chennai. By 2005-end we will have a national presence,” says Kumar.
The Malayalam television market has seen a flurry of channel launches this year. Asianet has recently launched its youth-oriented entertainment channel Asianet Plus. The market has also witnessed the launches of Sun’s music and movie channel Kiran TV, Kairali’s infotainment channel People TV and Amrita TV in 2005.
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.
