News Broadcasting
Zee Turner wooing CNBC India; SET Discovery seeks to add music, news channel to distribution offering
The courting game is on in right earnest in the distribution arena. And it is on the Zee Turner and SET Discovery distribution platforms where the action is.
A Zee Turner executive confirmed to indiantelevision.com today that talks were on with CNBC India and MTV India to bring them aboard. He was speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on conditional access systems (CAS) organised by the Consumer Electronics & TV Manufacturers’ Association (CETMA) in the capital.
Asked for his response, Shantonu Aditya, head of Sony Entertainment TV (SET) Discovery Pvt Ltd, said negotiations with CNBC India were continuing.
The buzz in the industry is that production company TV18, which runs CNBC India, and has already taken over advertising generating activities from Sony, is slated to shift to Zee Turner when the contract with Sony comes up for renewal in March 2003.
Sony meanwhile, is on a hunt of its own and looking at adding more channels to its bouquet. “We are looking at channels in the space of music and news to be part of the bouquet which we distribute,” Aditya said.
Aditya, was however, not forthcoming on the names of channels being considered to be part of the bouquet. “There are very few choices now in the space of music and news,” he said.
Asked specifically whether the music channel was MTV, Aditya took refuge in Murphy’s Law (when you cannot convince anybody, confuse him) and said, “well there is B4U Music too.”
Asked for his reaction to the news that both Zee and Sony were interested in his music channel, Alex Kuruvilla, managing director, MTV India, said: “As things stand, we are not about to join any platform. However, if anyone were to put a compelling proposition in front of us, we would definitely evaluate it very seriously.”
On the news channel front Aditya said the company was open to distributing an existing news channel or even a proposed one. “We are open to both options. But we do not want to invest in a news channel at this moment and own it,” he clarified.
Media circles have been abuzz with rumours that NDTV, proposing an independent venture in news and current affairs in Hindi and English post March 2003, has been been talking to Sony for distribution of its channel(s).
Asked about NDTV’s proposed news channel and a possible tie-up with SET Discovery, Aditya refused to comment.
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.
