News Broadcasting
Times group offloads Mid-Day stake in the open market
MUMBAI: The signals are mixed, but they undoubtedly are there. While one media company announced a 10 per cent buy out of equity stake in Mid-Day Multimedia Ltd (MML) for Rs 255.4 million, another one sold part of its shareholding in Mid-Day late last week.
Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd (BCCL), which had acquired 7.72 per cent equity stake in MML a while back, offloaded 13,88,313 shares of Mid-Day Multimedia Ltd in the open market.
The BCCL deal that took place on 4 March, a day after The Indian Express picked up 10 per cent stake in the company, was struck at Rs 85.69 per share.
BCCL, which owns The Times of India and other popular print publications, carried out the deal through Banhem Financial & Investment Consultants Limited, an investment arm of the media company. After the sale of shares, its holding in Mid-Day Multimedia, along with Dharmayug Investments Limited, is 22,95,466 shares, according to a posting on the National Stock Exchange.
On being queried on the sale and purchase of Mid-Day shares, Mid-Day Multimedia MD Tariq Ansari did not offer any comments. To another query on whether there could be some synergy between Mid-Day and the Express, Ansari said through e-mail, ” Yes it will. A committee is being formed to evaluate the process and put together a proposal for the company’s board to consider.”
A media stock analyst with a Mumbai-based investment company, while commenting on sale of Mid-Day shares by BCCL, opined that the shedding of Times group stake is indicative of “reduced possibilities between two media corporate houses ( Times and Express ) for fight of control in MML in the immediate future.”
On 3 March, Mid-Day had informed the stock exchange that The Indian Express has bought 10 per cent equity in the company for Rs 255.4 million.
The promoters of Mid-Day (through companies Ferari Investments and Trading and Meridian Holding and Leasing) have agreed to sell 42,56,628 shares of the company at a price of Rs 60 per share to The Indian Express. The post transaction holding of the promoters would be 53.6 per cent.
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.
