News Broadcasting
Tata Sons, Star Group ink DTH deal; Tatas to hold 80% stake
MUMBAI / NEW DELHI: News Corp’s Star Group and Tata Sons today announced the inking of a deal for a 20:80 joint venture agreement for a KU-band direct-to-home (DTH) television service for India.
This follows several draft memoranda of understanding and meetings between Star Group and Tata executives over the past few months. It was last September that indiantelevision.com broke the news that Star had zeroed down on the Tatas to be their partners in the Indian DTH venture.
The Tatas, being the the majority shareholder, would reportedly be nominating a CEO, while a Star person is expected to be the COO. A name that has been thrown up as a likely candidate from Star’s end is G Jagdish Kumar, who is anyway the COO of Space TV, the company Star had set up for its DTH foray.
It is also expected that a formal revised application will be moved in this regard with the government, which has already given a conditional letter of invitation to Space TV.
As far as the investment in this project from the Tatas is concerned, it is reportedly coming by and large through Tata Sons.
A statement issued by Tata Sons states that “the Tata Group and Star Group look forward to building India’s largest digital television platform and offering a range of channels including exclusive channels, with interactive features and services.”
Expectations of some finalisation of the DTH have been doing the rounds ever since the Star Groups big three of CEO Michelle Guthrie, COO Steve Askew and CFO John Lau flew down to Mumbai last week.
Industry experts pointed out that if Star has to start a DTH service in India, it should not delay the foray as completion of formalities is likely to take some time. With the country and the government getting into the general election mode, such a process may take up more time than usual, if delayed further.
Subhash Chandra’s companies ASC Enterprise and Zee have launched a DTH service under the Dish TV brand in the last quarter of 2003. Though the subscriber base may not be as high as is being claimed (50,000), there is no denying that any further delay by Star may give Chandra’s companies enough lead time to consolidate operations.
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.
