News Broadcasting
Prasad faults riots coverage by news channels
MUMBAI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shanker Prasad on Friday gave the clearest indication yet that the government was considering ways to curb “excessive live” coverage of riots.
Prasad, who was in the Bihar state capital Patna on Friday, was quoted by the Press Trust of India as saying that injudicious telecast by private TV channels of footage of sensitive events were a threat to internal security and the government might be forced to take legal recourse to check it if they did not exercise self-control.
While clarifying that he was not in favour of ‘moral policing,’ Prasad however, was quoted by PTI as saying there should be certain restrictions on what is being telecast.
“I am against live telecast of riots. It is not going to serve any purpose,” Prasad said, adding that if the news channels did not exercise self-control, the government would be forced to constitute a professional body to monitor and control live telecast of sensitive news.
Prasad deplored the way in which the communal riots in Gujarat of last year were televised by private channels and said this was not in national interest.
Prasad was also quoted by The Times of India as saying that the proposed uplinking of Star for its 24-hour India-centric news channel will soon be taken to the Cabinet.
CAS TASK FORCE MEETS:
Because Prasad was in Patna, he could not attend today’s meeting of the task force on conditional access in New Delhi. The meeting was chaired by I&B ministry joint secretary Rakesh Mohan.
At the time of uploading this report however, details of what transpired at the meeting were still awaited.
One issue that the cable operators are likely to have raised is the government mandating the genres that need to be included in the free-to-air basic tier. Operators are by and large opposed to this.
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.
