News Broadcasting
TRP row: Republic TV’s broadcast of Hansa Report not illegal, says court
NEW DELHI: Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh opened up a pandora’s box on 8 October when he addressed the press conference on the subject of TRP manipulation. Ever since, the news broadcasting industry has been beset by flying allegations and accusations, as well as FIRs and lawsuits against the parties involved – from broadcast networks, federations, to regulators and even research agencies.
One such suit was filed by Hansa Research on 16 October in the city civil court in Mumbai seeking an injunction against use of its name by Republic TV. This was in response to the channel airing something called the 'Hansa Report' without checking with the agency about the veracity of this document.
The court heard the plea and posted a formal hearing on it for a later date but did not entertain a petition for an ad-interim injunction against Republic TV in the matter.
The city civil court has upheld the network’s right to air the ‘Hansa Report’ which detailed the TRP manipulation case and stated that since the referred document is already available on multiple websites and other places, therefore its broadcast cannot be referred to as illegal. The court further mentioned that Hansa has not challenged the veracity of the document aired on Republic. "
We tried reaching Hansa Research for a comment but were not able to get through to them.
Earlier, Praveen Nijhara, CEO of Hansa Research had said after filing the suit, "We formally sent a notice to Republic TV on 12 October 2020 requesting them not to use our name. Since this was not acted upon, and Republic TV continued to use the Hansa name on television, we had no option but to approach the city civil court seeking an injunction against use of our name. The matter is now sub-judice and will be heard in November."
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.
