News Broadcasting
Media stocks plunge as Sensex sheds 452 points
MUMBAI: Media stocks crashed along with the benchmark Sensex Index which shed 452.80 points to close the day at 10,938. Pulled down by brokers who sold heavily to cover margin requirements and foreign funds to reduce their exposure in the derivatives market, the negative sentiment was also visible in the Nifty Index which ended at 3279, down 109 to previous close.
The major media scrips which recorded a two figure drop include HTMT, Adlabs, Zee Telefilms, Sun TV Ltd, NDTV, Saregama, TV18, Galaxy Entertainment, Gemini Communications and Navneet Publications.
HTMT took the deepest plunge, going down by Rs 48.30 to close at Rs Rs.701.75 at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Sun TV also stood weaker, recording a fall of Rs 38.25 to close at Rs.1192.35. Adlabs went down by Rs 26 to close at Rs 271.45 while NDTV ended the week at Rs 220.00, falling by Rs 21.10. Gemini Communications recorded a drop of Rs 22.8 to touch Rs Rs.433.30.
TV 18 went down by Rs 19 .35 to close at Rs 636.15, while the Zee TV stock dropped by Rs 15 to end the week at Rs 229.60. Navneet Publications recorded a fall of Rs 15, to close the week at Rs 304.30. The Saregama scrip shed Rs 11.35 to touch Rs 250. Galaxy Entertainment went down by Rs 13.55 to end the week at Rs 268.
Other important media scrips which saw the red at the week’s close included UTV, BAG Films, Mid Day Multimedia, K Sera Sera, Pritish Nandy Communications and ETC Networks.
Stock analysts feel the Sensex is undergoing an overall valuation adjustment. “The correction in the valuation of media stocks is in line with the stock market crash which fell around 11 per cent in the week. There is no unusual reason to worry about the media stocks,” says ING Vysya fund manager Manish Bhandari.
So will the fall continue? “The sensex has already lost heavily. It may further dip by about 3 per cent. But a heavy fall like this is definitely ruled out,” says Bhandari.
The media scrips which bucked the trend are TV Today Ltd and Balaji Telefilms. Both recorded minimal gains of Rs 1.35 and Rs 0.75 respectively. “Balaji’s strong fourth quarter result has protected the scrip’s fall,” adds Bhandari.
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.
