News Broadcasting
Tara Marathi goes Hindi at primetime
Eternal Dreams, that took on the unenviable task of turning around Broadcast Worldwide’s Tara Marathi in March this year, seems to have found its forte.
Buoyed by the success of its distance education programme in cooking and baking that the company launched to target SEC B audiences two months ago, Eternal Dreams is now going Hindi in prime time. From 6.30 pm to 9 pm weekdays, the new look Tara Marathi will air distance learning shows in Hindi, imparting instruction in English speaking, customer relations, housekeeping as well as international cuisine. The move, says the channel management company, has been necessitated by an overwhelming response from viewers, particularly non Maharashtrians. The company is now negotiating with Doordarshan to air the series on DD Metro. If the deal is pulled off, says chief operating officer Bonnie Jain, the programme, that has taken up nearly 40 per cent of the channel’s programming budget, will be aired in Hindi on DD Metro and in Marathi on Tara Marathi.
Admitting that “it is a big risk” taking on mainstream entertainment channels at prime time with a distance learning show, Jain says the series is a “do or die” venture, a calculated risk aimed at weaning away viewers from the ubiquitous soap and slapstick comedy on rival channels. Eternal Dreams is also negotiating with a “major channel” in South India for broadcasting the series in Tamil, as well as with other channels in north and western India for dubbing in regional languages.
Tara Marathi, languishing at number four among Marathi channels, has seen a spurt in ratings since relaunching in March, with the distance learning programme contributing most to its revival, says managing director Sapna Chaturvedi. The channel has managed to rope in 40 clients with over 100 brands advertising on air, she says. The six week course in cooking and baking, which will shortly be repeated on air, is affiliated with the Indian Institute of Hotel Management and gives participants a certificate after a practical examination at the end of the course. The low cost vocational training has helped rope in the lower SEC B segment to the channel, says Jain.
Tara Marathi is also toying with the idea of teaming up with ministry of higher education and ITI (Indian Technical Institute) in offering distance learning courses in collaboration with the State. While ratings are yet to catch up with the leaders in the Marathi channel market, the channel is already firming up plans of its second round of fresh programming in August. While the channel is currently making do with re-runs of older serials and dubbed versions of mythos, 40 per cent of programming is fresh, says Jain. Comedian Laxmikant Berde will make his debut on the small screen with Lakshat Theva a slapstick show, while another show, Abhimaan Maharashtracha, will profile prominent young achievers from the state, including the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli. Vichitra, a “believe it or not” show will also take off on the channel by August.
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.
