News Broadcasting
Thursday Premieres see ad spurt on Zee
MUMBAI: If the proof of the pudding is in the eating, Zee Telefilms Ltd’s (ZTL) strategy to introduce a Hindi film at Thursday prime time slot seems to be paying dividends. Not only are its movies now a regular feature on the ratings charts, it has had a positive impact on its ad inventory position and has also boosted the stock price at the bourses.
A channel ad spot analysis done by Perfect Monitoring indicates a significant increase in the commercial activity from September 2002 to October 2002. There was an almost 60 per cent increase in commercial activity the analysis has revealed.
Some premier brands which were inactive during September 2002 on Zee came on board in October. Brands that became active during October in a big way were Whirlpool Fast Forward Ice refrigerator, Colgate Herbal toothpaste, Kinetic Boss motorcycle, Sundrop Nutrilite sunflower oil, Pantene Volume & Fulness shampoo, Cadbury’s Dairymilk Chunky and Sansui color television.
Media buyers that indiantelevision.com spoke to say Zee TV is getting an average effective ad rate of between Rs 75,000 to RS 80,000 per 10 second spot when its movies are being telecast. Industry sources indicate that ad secondage during the Thursday Premiere is just over 3,000 seconds therefore it is reasonable to assume that Zee would be raking in around RS 24 million in advertising per movie.
There has been some positive news on the stock exchanges as well for Zee. The ZTL stock has attracted some fund buying pushing the stock up from Rs 85.90 on 1 November to the current levels of Rs 87, Hindu Businessline has reported. Obviously, in the long term Zee will have to show a ratings rise for its other shows as well in addition to being able to sustain the weekly airing of new films.
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.
