News Broadcasting
New Prasar CEO to leverage DD’s reach & bank on creative content, tech & social media
MUMBAI: Doordarshan under the new Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati is expected to scale new heights.
He has some plans up his sleeve. When they are done with restoring the glory of AIR and DD by 2022, other channels would look pale, he told OneIndia.
The DD network continued to have the widest reach across all channels. Vempati believes the reach was their strength and they would have to build on it to make a difference through creative use of content and innovative use of technology.
The CEO plans expand the reach and deepen DD’s engagement in social media — so that it is impactful and effective, as a first priority.
Vempati plans to restore trust in the Prasar Bharati ecosystem across all their stakeholders, especially their external partners and internal.
The CEO finds it unfortunate that several critical issues had not been addressed resulting in a trust deficit and unnecessary litigation. Vempati plans work closely with all of the Prasar stakeholders to restore trust in their operations, policies and transactions.
Nostalgia about DD, the new CEO believes, was the starting point for building “Brand Loyalty.” However, to attract and retain viewers, they had to go far beyond nostalgia. He believes they would have to capture the imagination of India’s youth, engage them with compelling content, and become a significant part of their everyday life.
DD had the responsibility to reflect Indian values, Indian ethos, and the aspirations of a billion plus people. The world deserves to be told the India experience and the India story. The globe, Vempati believes, also needs to hear out to India’s perspective on global events and shifts in geo-politics.
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.
