News Broadcasting
NDTV floats subsidiary in Netherlands; Q3 net profit up 85% at Rs 48.8 million
MUMBAI: News major NDTV Ltd, while declaring an 85 per cent rise in net profits for the quarter, anounced that it has floated a subsidiary – NDTV Networks BV in Netherlands.
This new company will wholly own NDTV Networks Plc and its underlying subsidiaries – NDTV Imagine, NDTV Lifestyle, NDTV Convergence and NDTV Labs and 50 per cent in NGEN Media Services. All these subsidiaries are currently wholly owned by their respective parents and would engage in implementing the new business initiatives to be undertaken by NDTV, the company said in a release.
Indiantelevision.com had first reported that NDTV Group had floated Networks Plc, UK, which would play a big role in bringing in investments for the entertainment and other non news channels. The company had applied for Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). Reportedly, the approval is for pumping in $130-160 million in the form of foreign direct investment (FDI).
Hindu Business Line has reported that the subsidiary would raise funds in the overseas market, particularly through listing on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) segment of the London Stock Exchange. While $106 million would be invested into NDTV Imagine (a non-news Hindi mass entertainment channel), FDI to the tune of $25.23 million would be pumped into NDTV Lifestyle which would be engaged in the business of content production for TV channels dedicated to travel, food, fashion, shopping and health and wellness in India and abroad.
NDTV Q3 net profit up 85 per cent at Rs 48.8 million
Meanwhile, NDTV has reported 85 per cent rise in net profit to Rs 48.8 million in the third quarter ended 31 December 2006 against Rs 26.4 million in the year-ago period.
Total income rose 15.21 per cent to Rs 793.8 million from Rs 689 million during the same period. The company’s operating profit margin dropped from 22.24 per cent to 17.77 per cent year on year.
Profits and revenues rose despite huge incubation costs, the company said in a release.
“NDTV’s Indonesian JV (Astro Awani) made profits this quarter within just six months of its launch. The channel is on track to launch its Malaysian channel shortly. The company has also launched operations in Australia and New Zealand,” the statement added.
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.
