News Broadcasting
Republic TV continues to lead English news genre despite bumps
BENGALURU: Broadcast Audience Research Council of India’s (BARC) weekly data for week 45 of 2017 (Saturday, 4 November 2017 to Friday, 10 November 2017) reveals that Republic TV’s viewership has reached a new low point since it was launched in May 2017. Despite garnering just 0.524 million weekly impressions during the week under consideration, Republic TV still led the Indian English news genre for the 27th week in a row right from its launch week—week 19 of 2017. The Arnab Goswami-led channel has steadfastly held on to the first rank that it grabbed from Times Now in week 19, garnering genre-topping viewership of 2.117 million weekly impressions. Even if one were to eliminate data for week 21 when the other Indian English news channels with the backing of the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) withdrew from BARC ratings, Republic TV has had a remarkable run so far.
With a dip in Republic TV ratings, the combined ratings of the top-five channels (All India (U+R): NCCS AB: Males 22+ Individuals) during week 45 have also dipped to the lowest ratings ever since the launch of Republic TV. The combined weekly ratings of the top-five English news channels for the week under consideration are just 1.816 million impressions, much lower than the impressions that Republic TV alone had garnered in week 19 of 2017.
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.
