News Broadcasting
SC stumps DD’s lunch break ‘Fourth Umpire’
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court bowled another googly today that has stumped pubcaster Prasar Bharati.
On a petition by Ten Sports, which is the exclusive rights holder for Pakistan cricket, the apex court today directed the Prasar Bharati-managed Doordarshan to stop putting up its own cricket programming during lunch break off the ongoing India-Pakistan one-day series.
Directing DD to carry a “uninterrupted feed” from Ten Sports, Justices Ashok Bhan and Arun Kumar said that DD cannot insert its own cricket programmes in between matches.
Ten Sports had complained to the court that Prasar Bharati was violating the 30 January order directing the public broadcaster to carry the “uninterrupted feed” from beginning to the end.
DD had mounted the Fourth Umpire analysis programme during the lunch break, while Ten has insisted that it should carry its Straight Drive.
Contacted by Indiantelevision.com today, Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma said, “It’s not straight, but we will have to take off DD’s Fourth Umpire during lunch breaks for (Ten Sport’s) Straight Drive.” However DD, according to Sarma, can have the Fourth Umpire before and after each one-day match.
Appearing for Prasar Bharati, Solicitor General GE Vahanvati submitted that Doordarshan was carrying the uninterrupted feed and its programme Fourth Empire was aired during the lunch break when there was no live coverage of the match, which did not cut any ice with the judges.
CRICKET, TENNIS, CHESS IN NOTIFIED LIST
Meanwhile, according to reports available, cricket, tennis and chess have been included in the list of sports that are of national importance by the government as part of the downlink norms, which make it mandatory for private broadcasters to share with DD on a mandatory basis listed sports.
League hockey matches are not part of the listed events, but finals of tournaments where India is playing must be shared. F1 races, which had been demanded by DD to be included as part of the listed events, did not find a place.
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.
