News Broadcasting
Mid-Day’s Go 92.5 FM serves notice it may surrender licence
MUMBAI: First was Win Radio. Now another FM wannabe has sounded the death throes alarm.
Radio Mid Day West India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Mid-Day Multimedia Ltd, has sent a conditional notice to the government of India (I&B ministry) to surrender its licence for FM Radio broadcasting in Mumbai wef 29 June 2004.
The news comes just over a month after another FM station announced it was downing shutters.
It was on 26 May that indiantelevision.com had reported that Win 94.6, one of the private FM radio stations in Mumbai, billed as the underdog among the five contenders, had gone off air.
Radio Mid-Day informed the Bombay Stock Exchange today that “despite several representations by the company to the government of India, the latter has not agreed to change the existing licensing structure for private broadcasters. If the government of India changes the licensing structure before 28 June 2004, the company retains the right to withdraw the notice and continue license/license agreement on revised term and conditions as may be mutually agreed to between the company and the government of India.”
The Midday group annual report 2002-03 had clearly stated the following while talking about the path forward: “In the radio business, we will build our Mumbai radio station while awaiting clarity from the government on the Broadcast Policy, after which a game plan for future growth will be developed.”
Mid-Day Multimedia chairman Khalid AH Ansari had observed in the annual report: “Last year saw Go 92.5 FM consolidate its position as the premium player in the industry. However, the major issue plaguing the industry as a whole is that of the high licence fee regime. This matter has been taken up by the industry, with the government, and a positive resolution of the issue is expected shortly. Radio as a medium is maturing at an accelerated pace. The growth in audience numbers, which currently stands at approximately 5 million listeners, proves that the medium has a vast potential for garnering advertising revenue. Go 92.5 is well positioned to take advantage of this exploding medium and its revenue yielding capacity.”
Left in the FM space in Mumbai now are the Times Groups’ Radio Mirchi (the leading station), the Star India backed Radio City, and the India Today group’s Red FM.
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.
