News Broadcasting
Times Television Network’s operations affected by Kamala Mills compound fire
MUMBAI: For Times Television staffers that were working the late night shift at Kamala Mills Compound in Mumbai, the night of 28 December 2017 was a bit of a nightmare. The conflagration that swept through restaurants 1 Above and Mojo Bistro and claimed 15 lives could have gutted the Times TV Network premises as well as Zoom’s offices, which were located on the first floor.
But luckily it impacted only parts of the office that cover almost 150,000 square feet. However, the smoke and heat forced night staff to leave their computer stations. Moreover, the flames damaged the uplinking facilities located on the premises, specially the cables that linked the playout that led to the dishes on the terrace of the building.
The net result: Times Now, ET Now, Mirror Now, Romedy Now, MNX, and Zoom and others went off air. And most distribution platforms carried an apology notice, in place of the live feed, which stated that the channel signals could not be received because of technical difficulties.
Sources within Times TV indicate that what could have caused further damage is the fact that the flames from above were threatening to pass down through the air conditioning ducts to the Zoom office and the firefighters turned their hoses spraying hundreds of gallons of water down the chutes that prevented any further damage due to the fire. However, a lot of equipment went kaput thanks to the water and the subsequent flooding, rendering the premises unfit for any activity. As a result, most of the staff is working from home.
Additionally, other sources claim that it was the quick action of Times TV engineering and technical staffers that helped rescue close to 150 guests in the restaurant above. “There was one exit, which was locked but our technical staff broke it open that allowed them to escape,” says a source. “However, not all could escape the ravaging fire and be rescued.”
Times Now, Mirror Now and ET Now restarted at 5:58 am following the shifting of the channel’s uplink to Essel Shyam in Noida and to Times TV Network’s Delhi studios. Anchors such as Faye Dsouza flew overnight to the capital in order to be able to anchor shows from the studio there.
However, other services like Romedy Now, Movies Now, Zoom and MNX were yet to begin transmission as the servers were damaged during the fire and firefighting operations.
Other staffers have been moved to the fifth floor of the Times Tower, which is opposite the burnt out premises.
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.
