News Broadcasting
Zee News, Mid-day end content sharing deal
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: The alliance between Mumbai Mid-day and Zee News is coming to an end as per an agreement this month.
The alliance for sharing content between the two, was hatched in August last year. It envisaged both Zee News and the popular afternoon tabloid giving each other space and airtime on their product for a specified time per week. Mid-day had also been given the mandate to put together an eight and half minutes news programme for Zee News, which was credited to the Mumbai newspaper. Zee, according to the deal marketed this programme among advertisers and paid Mid-day for the news product.
Contacted by indiantelevision.com in Delhi, ZeeTelefilms news director Laxmi N. Goel admitted that the Zee-Mid-day relationship is slated to “come to a natural end.” Pointing out that there were no extraneous reasons for ending the relationship, Goel said, “If in future we go in for a such a news package deal (for Mumbai), it’d be with Mid-day only.”
Mid-day Multimedia’s Television Division COO Arindam Mitra when contacted, also reiterated that the contract was due to end on 31 March 2004, and that both companies did not wish to extend the alliance at this point. Pointing out that Mid-day had anyway not hired permanent staff for the Zee News programmes and that the work was being done by freelancers brought in for the project, Mitra said Mid-day’s television division currently has its hands full with its foray into film production.
The company’s first film, Black Friday, is based on Hussain Zaidi’s novel on the serial bomb blasts that took place in Mumbai on 12 March 1993. The Rs 50 million project, which Mitra says will target both television and the big screen, will soon be marketed aggressively by the company. The film is being jointly financed by well known producer Jhamu Sughand and Mid-day. According to reports. the film is being released on international circuit initially, after representations at various film festivals.
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.
