News Broadcasting
Seven companies pitch for Trai’s consultancy account
NEW DELHI: About seven companies have shown interest in doing work for broadcast and cable regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), relating to global and technical scenarios in cable TV.
The companies who have pitched in for the Trai account include the Hong Kong-based Media Partners Asia, which has already done some work for the regulator, Ernst & Young, Boston Consulting, PwC and Deolite & Haskins.
Trai went through some presentations today and is likely to make the final choices for two consultants by early next week.
The two consultants would be required to furnish their reports on the following points:
Consultant 1 (International Trends):
o Study of international trends on the digitalisation of cable television.
o The report should cover four developed countries, including the USA and the UK as well as some developing countries with per capita income similar to that of India.
o The report should cover the statutes and regulations adopted by these countries towards the objective of digitalisation of cable TV as well as implementation schedules.
o The report should also cover the technical standards adopted by these countries.
o The technical status of plug and play digital television, which can be directly plugged with digital cable services without the need for a STB (set-top box).
Consultant 2 (Technical & Costing)
o Details of technical set-up (including costing) from head-end to customer-end required by multi-system operators and local cable operators for the delivery of 30 FTA channels, 36 scrambled pay channels requiring analogue or digital STB, incremental details for further 144 digital channels in steps of 36.
o The details should be provided for different levels of subscriber base of up to 500 subscribers, up to 5000 subscribers, up to 50,000 subscribers and up to 200,000 subscribers.
o The details of technical setup (including costing) required at the cable head-end to receive signals from broadcasters through satellite, optical fiber etc.
o The details of technical setup (including costing) required to provide interactive TV services such as pay-per-view, video on demand, etc.
o The consultant would be required to study the status of digitalisation of TV in India and visit at least two towns where the MSOs have started digitalisation of their services. This should be a part of the report.
o The consultant will take into account the relevant ITU, IEC and BIS standards and suggest need for change, if any.
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.
