News Broadcasting
Maya Entertainment gets Intel to invest again, bags $5 million outsourcing contract
MUMBAI: Ketan Mehta promoted Maya Entertainment Ltd, a leading computer animation and visual effects studio for film and television in India, has received a third round of funding to meet its expansion plans from Intel Capital.
Intel Capital’s latest investment in Maya is via a new fund it has floated – Intel Capital India Technology Fund.
Maya has got outsourcing contracts worth $5 million to be executed over a period of 18 months. “We are doing it for a UK-based production company,” says Maya Entertainment Ltd CEO Rajesh Turakhia.
For the 30-episode animation TV series, the contract is worth $3.65 million. “The remaining amount will be towards work for direct-to-home (DTH) DVD which will be completed by October 2006,” says Turakhia. The project for the TV series is expected to be complete by March 2007.
Maya Entertainment will soon expand its seat capacity to 200, Turakhia says. The target is to have a 300-seat capacity by beginning of 2007. The company is in negotiations for three more animation outsourcing projects.
Intel Capital had first invested in Maya in 2000. The second round of funding took place in 2003. Intel has done the fresh funding through its Intel Capital India Technology Fund. Out of the Fund’s corpus of $250 million, Intel has completed three investments for an undisclosed amount in Indian companies.
Bangalore-based Mobiapps, a provider of hybrid terrestrial and satellite technologies for commercial communications, has received a funding of $10 million. The financing round was led by UOB Venture Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Overseas Bank Ltd, and other new investors included Intel Capital. Existing investors also participated, including Partners Group. Beacon Advisory acted as financial advisors to the company for this equity funding. The company will use this investment to accelerate its global sales and marketing, new product launches, and next generation product development.
Intel’s third investment is in Pune-based Persistent Systems Private Ltd, a provider of outsourced software product development services. Mobiapps is new to the Intel Capital portfolio, and Maya Entertainment and Persistent Systems are follow-on investments in companies that have been part of the Intel Capital portfolio since 2000.
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.
