News Broadcasting
Trai price freeze upped payouts by cable ops: Jawahar Goel
MUMBAI: The payouts of smaller cable networks towards pay channels have been going up. And this is despite the price freeze on subscription rates imposed by the broadcast regulator says Essel Group additional vice chairman and head of SitiCable Jawahar Goel.
“As a multi system operator (MSO) model, the price freeze (ordered by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India – Trai) has helped. But for smaller networks the payout has gone up,” Goel says.
Trai had frozen pay channel rates but had allowed broadcasters to ask for increase in subscriber declarations from cable operators.
“If I were to draw an analogy, the Trai regulation is like you can’t increase the rates of bananas in kilos but in dozens,” says Goel, taking a dig at the broadcast regulator.
There is a flaw in the tariff control system as there is no uniform price for consumers. This technically can be challenged in the court by subscribers, asserts Goel.
Broadcasters have also divided MSOs to increase their revenue growth from subscription. “In certain cities, they have done minimum guarantee deals with an MSO. In Hyderabad, for instance, Star and Sony have joined hands and given the distribution to Hathway,” says Goel. An attempt to have a similar kind of arrangement with RPG network in Kolkata was thwarted as the state government intervened, he avers.
In the cable TV distribution business, there is no fair play. “Here might is right. There is no ground rule,” says Goel.
But the head of Siticable is optimistic. “A distribution margin system will evolve across the three value chains – MSOs, broadcasters and last mile cable operators. This is bound to happen even in a non-CAS (conditional access system) situation.”
Is it necessary to lift the price freeze? “It has to come with some regulations. There has to be discipline in the broadcasting and distribution business,” says Goel.
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.
