News Broadcasting
Mathrubhumi News makes near accurate post-poll predictions in Kerala
NEW DELHI: The legislative assembly election results in Kerala were declared on 2 May, and the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) created history by procuring 99 of the total 140 seats, beating anti-incumbency to return to power; the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) had to settle for the remaining 41 seats while BJP was left empty-handed.
Prior to the election results, several Malayalam channels had broadcast their post-poll predictions, and Mathrubhumi News has emerged as the only Malayalam channel which managed to predict the mood of the people of Kerala almost perfectly.
The 98-year-old media group predicted 104 to 120 seats for LDF and 20 to 36 seats for UDF. Interestingly, Mathrubhumi also predicted that BJP will get 0 to 2 seats in God’s own country.
“Everything had to be right if we were to put out a prediction, right from choosing the agency, Axis My India, to agreeing on a statistically valid sample size and the methodology including the various groups’ representation on the research,” said Mathrubhumi managing director MV Shreyams Kumar. “While we had other options, what we preferred was face-to-face interactions with the voters. When the final numbers came out, we had no hesitation in making a bold proclamation of our finding as we knew we got the voters sentiments clearly etched on our research sheets.”
The media group’s had made a bulls-eye election prediction during the 2016 Kerala assembly polls too.
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.
