News Broadcasting
Zee News locks in on daytime viewers
NEW DELHI: Hindi news channels Zee News may not rank very high on the “media noise” quotient but that is not to say it is out of the reckoning in the ratings stakes.
Quoting recent TAM data, an official release claims that daytime viewers spent more time on Zee News than on its rivals (source TAM week ending 12 June, All India, TG C&S AB Male 25+, TB – 6 am to 5:59 p.m.). In terms of channel shares Zee News is ahead of NDTV, Star News and DD News, the release states.
Zee News’ coverage of planet Venus’ rare transit across the sun – Shukra Hai Suraj Hai, made it the first choice of the viewers with a leading channel share of 3.84, ahead of Aaj Tak (3.64,) Star News (2.7), NDTV India (1.94), Sahara Samay (1.04), DD News (.76) (source TAM 8 June, All India, C&S AB M 25+ TB – 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.), the release states.
As regards the venus transit, Zee News asserts leadership in time spends as well. Viewers spent 27 minutes on Zee News as against Star News’ 18 minutes, Aaj Tak’s 16 Minutes, NDTV India’s 13 Minutes and DD News’ 11 minutes. Zee News covered the Venus transit from a specially created studio, with reporting from across the country including the observatory in Nainital and from Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi and other regional centers, the release says.
Among the channel’s other big stories was anchor Ashok Singhal’s exclusive interview with former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee that led to a churning within the BJP. Zee News also claims to have had the lead on its rivals vis-a-vis its coverage of last week’s Matsyagandha Express rail tragedy.
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.
