News Broadcasting
TV 18 completes ETV channel acquisition
MUMBAI: A year ago, one of India’s leading media companies announced that it was acquiring the regional broadcast network; yesterday it informed the stock exchange that it had completed the transaction. We are referring to TV18 Broadcast, a subsidiary of Network 18, which sent a note out to the Bombay stock exchange that it had successfully completed the acquisition of the Ramoji Rao promoted ETV network with effect from 22 January 2014.
The channels were acquired at a price of Rs 2,053 crore according to the Share Purchase Agreement which is well within the budget of Rs 2,100 crore that was approved by its board last year. The deal resulted in it acquiring 100 per cent of regional Hindi news channels ETV Uttar Pradesh, ETV Madhya Pradesh, ETV Rajasthan, ETV Bihar and ETV Urdu and 50 per cent in ETV Marathi, ETV Kannada, ETV Bangla, ETV Gujarati and ETV Oriya. The Telugu news and GEC channels ETV Telugu and ETV Telugu News will, however, see TV18 owning only 24.50 per cent equity.
Excepting for the two Telugu channels, TV18 will have complete board and management control over all the other channels. Additionally, it will be holding the 50 per cent stake in the five regional GECs as an asset held for sale. The interest in these channels, its filing with the BSE states, will transferred to an associate company. Sources indicate that the channels are most likely going to be added to its Viacom18 joint venture or another company in the group. This will help it keep separate identities for TV18 Broadcast as a news channel enterprise, and GECs under Viacom18, if the transfer does happen under it.
The deal cements TV 18 and Viacom 18’s presence in the regional space. When contacted, Network 18 group CEO B Sai Kumar, he said that the deal had been waiting to come through and more details would have to wait a while.
With one more transaction out of the way, Network18 can now focus on expanding its portfolio further through a Gujarati business news channel in the next few months as announced by Sai Kumar barely a week ago, clearly signalling that things are turning around at the group which was once ailing, thanks to its heavy debt burden.
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.
