News Broadcasting
News channels rake in advertising on budget day
BENGALURU: Normally, the days leading up to, during and following the state and national elections and election result day are when news channels rake in the moolah. Another important day for news channels for attracting advertisers is the day the national budget is announced. This budget day was no different – advertisers flocked news channels. Here is a list of top five advertisers and brands on news channels on 1 February 2018 according to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC):
Channels: CNBC Awaaz; CNBC Bazar; CNBC TV 18; CNBC TV 18 Prime HD; Zee Business; ET Now; BTVI
Channels: Aaj Tak; Zee News; India TV; News18 India; India News; News Nation; News 24; Zee Hindustan; Tez
Channels: Republic TV; Times Now; Times Now HD; India Today Television; CNN News18; NDTV 24×7; Mirror Now; News X; NewsX HD
As is obvious from the above charts, the top five advertisers and brands were across verticals – be it infrastructure, finance, insurance, home décor, lighting, pharmaceutical, etc. Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved was the biggest advertiser among the top five lists and that too across just one genre of news – Hindi business news.
A number of these players are normally not present in BARC’s weekly lists of top 10 advertisers and bands in terms of insertions. Here are BARC’s lists of the top 10 advertisers and brands in week 5 of 2017 (Saturday, 27 January 2018 to Friday, 2 February 2018).
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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.
