News Broadcasting
Sony may look at IPO post-restructuring
NEW DELHI: Sony Entertainment Television, part of the Japanese conglomerate Sony, is in a restructuring mode both in Singapore and India. Though company executives did not provide any specifics, media analysts feel this is a precursor to an initial public offer (IPO) in India, which may come some time in the second half of 2003.
“We are undergoing some restrucuturing both in Singapore and India as part of which the Indian operation has undergone work-related changes,” SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta, told indiantelevision.com today in Delhi.
Asked to respond to the sentiment among media analysts that the changes in SET in Singapore and India may lead to an IPO in India, Dasgupta reluctantly admitted: “At some point of time we have to bring the two entities together for valuation purposes.” Dasgupta however, refused to divulge any further details.
Bringing the Indian and Singapore operations under one company has to be done as the Singapore SET is the brodcasting company, while SET India is the marketing, ad sales and distribution company.
“Only merging the two entities will unlock the real valuation of Sony Entertainment if it wants to go in for an IPO,” a media analyst with a Delhi-based stock investment firm explained.
To a direct poser as to when SET would be going in for an IPO, Dasgupta said: “Speculations have been made in the media. But to this question I have no answers at the moment.”
Still, informed industry sources based in Singapore indicated that SET may go in for an IPO in India after completing its restrucuturing which may take some time yet.
Singapore-based sources also told indiantelevision.com that SET may “play a wait and watch game” to see the viewer and advertiser feedback from ICC-organised cricket matches and the next big show, the cricket World Cup in South Africa in March 2003.
As part of restrucuturing in SET India, the earlier system of everybody reporting to the CEO has been done away with. It has been replaced by decentralisation and accountability of work responsibilities. However, some divisions like the HR and the company’s CFO continue to report directly to the CEO.
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.
