News Broadcasting
Star gives a sneak preview of its Oscar plans
Star Movies seems to have stolen a march over chief rival HBO in its bid to generate some Oscar buzz. Though the awards are a while away (25 March to be exact), the promo campaign has already begun.
The move has added import considering that HBO is planning a big Oscar blitz of its own. Of course Star Movies has the rights to the “Big One” – exclusive live relay of the awards ceremony.
In a move clearly aimed at attracting advertising, as well as generating media awareness for the event the channel has started sending boxes to media and advertising outlets which convey the impression that a replica of the statuette is contained within. The taglines being “Only one movie channel has it live!” and “Will your brand be there?”
The 74th Annual Academy Awards will be shown live on 25 March at 6:30 am with a repeat at 9:30 pm. Whoopi Goldberg, an Oscar winner herself for ‘Ghost’, will be the MC. The nominations will be shown live on 12 February at 7 pm with a repeat on 16 Feb at 5:30 pm. For India, the focal point of interest will be whether ‘Lagaan’ gets a look-in the Foreign Language category.
In the build-up to awards night, from 1-24 March the channel will showcase films that have won or have been nominated for the awards in previous years. These include Philadelphia which gave Tom Hanks his first Oscar, Thelma & Louise with Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, American Beauty which won the best picture Oscar a couple of years ago and the Tom Cuise starrer Jerry Maguire.
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.
