News Broadcasting
Zee English ties up with contests2win.com
'Laughter is the best medicine' or so the popular saying goes. Zee English is focussing on the comedy band. The channel has been running the 'Simply Funny' contest on the gaming site contests2win.com from 6 December. The contest concludes on 26 December.
The rules are simple. One has to click on the simply funniest button to select the funniest male, female and show. There are five nominees in each category which were chosen by Zee. As soon as the selection is made data will spring up which will show the picks of the other site visitors. So one's performance can be gauged.
Shows competing include Seinfeld, Kirstie Alley's Veronica's Closet and the popular Friends with Jennifer Aniston and company. Earlier episodes of the last one air on Star World.
On 30 December in a show between 9-10 PM the winners will be announced. Twenty-four pairs of Pepe jeans are up for grabs. Lovers of sun and sand can gallivant in Goa courtesy Majorda Beach Resort. The resort is offering 15 winners packages consisting of a two night and three day stay for two adults and two children. The telecast time is clearly aimed at whetting audiences appetite before the 15th Annual American Comedy Awards which will air on the channel at 10 PM
In addition to choosing your favourite stars and show one has the option of rating the other contestants on the scale of 1-10. From this Zee English hopes to gain a clear idea of the direction audiences taste is taking.
Zee has been running attractively funny promos on Zee English and also Zee MGM making viewers aware of the contest. The latter shows films which appeal to mature viewers like Steven Soderbergh's stunning debut Sex Lies and Videotape and Woody Allen's Alice.
A Contests2win spokesperson said that the site was open to the idea of tying up with other channels as the relationship with Zee has borne fruit for both companies. Previously the site had run a contest promoting Seinfeld where simple questions were asked like where does the Seinfeld group meet every evening to hang out. The aim was that the Indian viewer would feel that the characters were a part of the family.
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.
