News Broadcasting
Times’ Pradeep Guha tipped to join Zee as CEO
MUMBAI / NEW DELHI: The rumours have surfaced before (of his leaving) on and off these past few years but this time it appears to be the real thing. Times Group president Pradeep Guha is slated to join Zee Telefilms Ltd as chief executive officer in the New Year, according to reliable industry sources.
Guha, whose official designation is president, Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd (which counts The Times of India and Economic Times as its key publications), is expected to officially hand in his resignation to company vice-chairman Sameer Jain on 19 November. Jain is currently abroad, information available with indiantelevision.com indicates.
Reportedly taking over from Guha as overall head of Response (ad sales by another name) is Bennett, Coleman executive director Ravi Dhariwal.
When contacted by Indiantelevision.com for a comment on the reported developments, Guha’s response was, “I am not denying that an offer has been made. As for the other points made in the report, there is no truth in it for the time being.”
But when asked whether there was at least a possibility of his moving to Zee, Guha’s reply appeared evasive. “Not for at least a month or two,” he said.
A Zee Group spokesperson today, however, denied everything saying, “All these talks are in the realm of speculation.”
According to industry sources, Guha accepted Chandra’s offer to be ZTL’s chief executive over a month ago.
One of the key briefs that Guha will likely have is to monetise India cricket (which Chandra remains confident of getting) to the maximum using every single media property the group has.
Guha is reportedly also taking along two people from Bennett, Coleman with him over to Zee — Times of India Response director Bhaskar Das and the man directly below Das, Sujoy Bose.
As and when Guha moves over to Zee Tele, Chandra would slowly back away from day-to-day activities of running the company, which he had been doing after he designated himself CMD over 18 months ago. That would allow him the leeway to concentrate on charting out a visionary path for the whole Essel Goup, the parent entity for Chandra’s various companies.
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.
