News Broadcasting
Turner spruces Pogo to meet competition
MUMBAI: It’s time to gear up for competition, existing and imminent. Pogo, the five month old children’s channel from Turner, is ready with phase II of its programming.
Pre-production of five half hour live action shows has already commenced, and the channel has sounded out seven domestic production houses for concepts for original shows. According to Turner International India MD Anshuman Misra, a crack team of professionals to oversee the creative work has already been put into place.
Among Pogo’s ambitious localisation initiatives is a decision to ramp up its languaging options, dramatically increasing Hindi on the channel. By the end of 2004, 80 per cent of Pogo’s programming will be in Hindi. Currently, Pogo offers two hours of Telugu, but is eyeing Tamil as well.
Pogo, according to Misra, will also introduce an Indianised version of one of the non animated and internationally produced shows already on air on Pogo, and is looking to partner with Indian production houses to remake the show with local talent.
Claming a reach of 15 million cable and satellite homes in India, Pogo has gone a notch higher programming wise by announcing its decision to launch Prime Pogo, a two and half hour block on Fridays that will be anchored by 24 year old Niall Sadh and 22 year old Nisha Lalvani.
Prime Pogo will have its curtain raiser on 28 May, the day the first major acquisition by Turner for Pogo, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, is telecast. Turner has invested heavily in promoting Potter mania, through cable channels, kids’ publications, billboards, emails through kids’ databases as well as below the line activities like flyer s in cinema halls and a contest that allows the winner a chance to visit England.
The Pogo model, according to Misra has worked well in the first few months of its existence, by garnering a reach of 15 million households to Cartoon Network’s 18 million. Derived loosely from the internationally successful Nickelodeon format, Pogo is now flexing its muscles to take on Nick in India, which too has risen from slumber and is armouring its arsenal.
Misra says he would welcome competition, claiming it would help grow the market. For now, of course, he says Pogo’s the way to go.
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.
