News Broadcasting
Post Percept, Aegis eyes acquisitions in India
MUMBAI: Close on the heels of the Aegis and Percept split, Aegis Group plc chief executive Robert Lerwill is drawing up expansion plans for the company in India which include acquisitions.
Carat, a media buying company, will be looking at local acquisitions, preferably with 100 per cent stake. He is also open to joint ventures with local companies”if that is the way forward in India.” Aegis bought out Percept’s 27 per cent stake in Carat India.
Aegis is also eyeing acquisitions in the digital space, Lerwill says. There is major growth potential in the digital media segment, which he believes is still underserved in India. Only 2-3 per cent of media usage lies in the digital space but this is likely to boom, he points out.
With Percept buying out Aegis’ 51 per cent in Posterscope India, Lerwil says the effort will be to first tap the internal clients for out of home business and then spread out. Percept will have to return the Posterscope brand, he adds.
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.
