News Broadcasting
ZTL, Padmalaya reach accord; land part of deal
MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms Ltd (ZTL) has reached a settlement with the promoters of Padmalaya companies, whom it had accused of misappropriation of shares.
According to the agreement, ZTL will be given 21,000 sq metres of land in Padmalaya Studios located in Hyderabad. The valuation of the property is close to Rs 500 million, says a source in Zee Telefilms. Consequent to this, ZTL will completely exit from Padmalaya.
Zee is likely to write off Rs 100 million as it had invested Rs 590 million in acquiring a majority stake in Padmalaya. ZTL had taken a 64 per cent stake in Padmalaya Enterprises Pvt LTD (PEPL). PEPL formed the holding company and held a 50.3 per cent controlling stake in Padmalaya Telefilms LTD (PTL), a listed company.
Already 17,000 sq metres has been transferred to ZTL, says the source. Padmalaya Studios is a privately held company by the promoters of Padmalaya and has land in the prime locality of Hyderabad.
“We are expecting the remaining 4,000 sq metres to be transferred within two months,” he adds. Zee is planning to sell the land to recover its investments in Padmalaya.
As part of the settlement, ZTL will also get back Zee Institute of Creative Arts (ZICA) which had been transferred to Padmalaya. ZICA is a training institute specialising in animation. “We wanted to protect the interests of the animation students,” the source says.
ZTL had earlier accused Padmalaya founder-promoter GA Seshagiri Rao, along with his relatives, of pledging PEPL’s shares in PTL to raise loans without the knowledge of the board. As a result of the misappropriation, PEPL’s holding in PTL has dropped from 50.3 per cent to about 20 per cent. Zee’s indirect interest in PTL had, as a result, fallen from 33 per cent to around 13 per cent.
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.
