News Broadcasting
Motilal Oswal report says CAS unlikely to impact Zee Telefilms till 3FY04
MUMBAI:The Motilal Oswal Inquire Indian Equity Research (MOSt Inquire) report dated 20 December 2002 has stated that CAS is unlikely to have any financial impact on Zee Telefilms before 3QFY04 as the first phase would only get completed by December 2003.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, Motilal Oswal Securities’ Subhabrata Majumder elaborated, “The passage of CAS in the Rajya Sabha will ensure that the longer term impact would be favorable to Zee Telefilms. We have maintained our FY04 estimates and Buy recommendation.”
The reasons, Motilal Oswal gives for not changing its position on the Zee stock include:
Ø Zee’s higher rural bias compared to competitors protects it from any adverse impact on advertising revenues due to possibly low set top box penetration in the metros.
Ø It is possible that the set top box penetration might show a substantial increase and surprise the sceptics.
Ø Broadcasters could float a mass general entertainment free-to-air channel to enhance their advertising revenues and to give viewers a laddering option to graduate to their respective pay offerings. (Zee may actually take this route by having a free to air, second run programming channel.)
Ø Zee is a broadbased player with the viewership of its flagship channel, Zee TV having a higher rural bias than its competitors. The regional language Alpha channels also give it a broader revenue base from the non-metro cities and towns. Therefore, for Zee, the implied share of advertising revenues from the metros would not be more than 20 percent.
In the longer term, with improving penetration of set top boxes, Zee could derive higher pay revenue grow the post-CAS. We maintain our advertising and pay revenue estimates for FY04, till the time the final guidelines are out and reiterate our Buy recommendation.
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.
