News Broadcasting
Rajat Sharma seeks uplink ok for Gujarati news channel
MUMBAI: Amidst the hurly-burly of the news channel business, another one has been lined up to further crowd the airwaves.
This time, it’s the Rajat Sharma-promoted India TV that has got into the action with plans to launch a sibling regional language channel to the Hindi India TV. According to information and broadcasting ministry sources, India TV has sought uplink permission for a Gujarati language news channel.
However, the details of the proposed channel are not forthcoming and India TV was not available for comment.
India TV’s new initiatives comes at a time when other broadcasters, including Sahara, TV Today, NDTV, Broadcast News and Times Global, too are actively working on news and current affairs channels in various Indian languages.
As things stand though, it seems that it will be TV Today’s new offering — working name Surkhiyaan (meaning Headlines) — that is likely to get off the blocks first amongst the new products.
Government sources, while saying India TV’s letter seeking permission came about a fortnight back, admitted that Sharma has requested the ministry to proceed with the formalities on a fast-track basis.
Apart from permission to uplink from India, Sharma’s company has also got the government’s nod for a teleport.
India TV’s post-production and uplink facilities and studios are based on a campus in Noida’s Film City on the outskirts of Delhi.
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.
