News Broadcasting
Soccer scores in select cities, cricket carries on unscathed
The World Cup is heating up and how. Soccer may be getting more eyeballs as the race to the World Cup gets hotter, but cricket continues to rule the average Indian heart. That is the message the ratings give.
Viewership for the World Cup in the week ended 8 June shot up considerably in the metros, according to TAM. Reports say the Argentina versus England match recorded a rating of 3.3 as compared to the previous week’s high of 1.45 TVR. Football however, is yet to get into the Top 100 – something that the India-West Indies one dayer did without so much as raising a sweat with a TVR of 6.31 on 2 June. The match helped ESPN climb into the top 100 shows in C&S homes at number 13, according to TAM.
In some places though soccer has done well for itself on the fledgling Ten Sports. For the first match between France and Senegal, Kolkata garnered TVRs of over 20 in the SEC A,B,C males 15-44 category. The second day’s matches have also done relatively well, but only in select metros like Kolkata and Cochin (where it got ratings of 32.5 and 20.4 in SEC A and B 15 + males). Mumbai and Delhi have caught up only in the second week, and the nine metro average hovered below a TVR of 5 in the first week, if TAM figures are to be believed.
Cricket on the other hand shows a steady following despite rain and losses. ESPN claims an advantage on this score, pointing out that on 1 June, cricket ratings peaked at TVR of 3.5 even after it rained during the fourth ODI, while soccer managed a peak TVR of just below 2 throughout the world cup matches during the day. Viewers, of course, had the advantage of checking out soccer during the first half of the day before switching loyalties to cricket in the second half.
ESPN also points to the nine city average on the opening day of the World Cup when the match drew a peak TVR of just above two, while the third ODI between India and the Windies on 29 May drew a peak TVR over nine.
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.
