News Broadcasting
Sony has a slate of new soaps ready to roll
MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television India’s ratings starved flagship channel Set is going in for a heavy dose of soaps in the coming months as compared to reality shows. The channel has lined up a slew of shows that it will be rolling out in the next five to six months.
The shows are aimed at strengthening its 8 pm to 11 pm band and attracting a new set of eyeballs and building up its viewer base.
For starters there is Jeetiya Hai Jis Ki Liye, produced by Tony and Diya Singh whose earlier Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin has been the only significant ratings success that Set has enjoyed on the soaps front in the recent past. The show will star Renuka Shahane, who will be making a comeback after her success as anchor on the popular cultural tele-magazine Surabhi.
The channel has also tied up with the Anuj Saxena’s Maverick productions for a drama titled Akhand Sau Bhagyawati, says Sony’s chief creative director Sandiip Sikcand.
The channel is also working with actress turned politician turned producer Smriti Irani aka Tulsi Virani for Viruddh. Irani had recently tied up with Kumarmangalam Birla’s media house Applause Entertainment. She is at the moment co-producing along with Balaji Telefilms for Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Sa Aasmaan (Star Plus).
As far as the channel think tank is concerned, the programming overhaul is necessary if the third-placed network is to be able to face the stiff competition from its rivals. Reality shows will be relegated to Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, while the rest of the week will see soapy dramas taking centrestage.
That’s not to say reality shows will do the vanishing act from Sony’s weekday prime time.The third season of Indian Idol will make its comeback in May, Sikcand points out.
“Sony is also devising its own little reality show, which will be aired twice a week which we are targeting to launch in February or March,” Sikcand says. Without offering much by way of detail, Sikcand adds that the channel was yet to finalise on certain aspects of the show.
“A variety talk show is also being designed, for which the channel has roped in Anupam Kher as anchor. This one hour weekend show will basically deal with hopes and aspirations,” he explains.
Getting back to the soap train, Sikcand say Set has in its kitty Khamoshi as well. Additionally, there is also a show that Sony has commissioned Film Farm to do, he adds.
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.
