News Broadcasting
‘Mummy’ at centre of HBO’s new year plans
After the promotional big bang that was Band of Brothers, HBO’s $ 120 million epic miniseries, the premiere English movie channel kicks off the new year by getting back to what it does best – showcasing Hollywood blockbusters
Premiering on 12 January at 9:30 pm is the 1999 hit Mummy. The adventure romantic comedy is the centrepiece of HBO’s promotional plans for the first quarter of the year, Shruti Bajpai, director marketing, HBO South Asia said today.
And following up on a well received effort last year which saw February having Valentine’s specials and March witnessing Oscar winners in the run-up to the Oscars, this year will have a similar thematic line-up Bajpai said.
Outlining the year gone by, Bajpai said HBO’s India operations achieved nearly twice the ad revenue target that had been set at the beginning of 2001. She said the economic downturn had not adversely affected the channel at all and that there had been no difficulty in filling inventories.
Outlining the success they had achieved, Bajpai said HBO had seen 100 advertisers across various categories buying air time in 2001. Queried about the poor ratings of Band of Brothers in contrast to the kind of promotional push that went behind it, she said the series did very well for the channel because of the quality associations that went with it (Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks produced the 10-part series).
As far as ratings are concerned, the biggest hit of the year for the channel was the family movie Stuart Little which had a rating of 1.2 (AC Nielsen’s TAM data), Bajpai said.
Elaborating on the programming aspect, Bajpai said Indian viewer profile surveys indicate that the popular genres among Indian viewers were action, emotional dramas, and thrillers.
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.
