News Broadcasting
Aaj Tak and India Today TV emerge as top scorers on Budget Day
MUMBAI: Aaj Tak and India Today TV, the Hindi and English news channels of India Today Group were the Budget Day’s most preferred news destinations, perched pretty well atop the news viewership table.
The 2019 budget presented by the Indian Government on 5th July had millions tuned in. Throughout the reporting of the budget, India Today TV and Aaj Tak helped all sections of the populace decipher the various complexities of the budget, and delivered key insights regarding the state of the country’s economy.
Here’s how Aaj Tak fared during budget hours compared to other networks:
|
Channel |
Gross Impressions (0000s) |
|
Aaj Tak |
3698 |
|
Zee News |
2149 |
|
ABP News |
2148 |
|
India TV |
2125 |
|
News18 India |
1091 |
* Source – BARC, 15+ NCCS ALL, Time Band – 11:00 – 14:00, period – 5th July 2019, Market – HSM
Through their decades of experience, the most respected and popular journalists of the country delivered comprehensive facts and insights on the budget on both India Today TV and Aaj Tak, and political experts on these platforms drilled down several vital aspects of the policies announced. With this impeccable reputation behind them, both Aaj Tak and India Today TV established themselves as the No.1 news destinations on Budget Day.
Here’s how India Today TV fared compared to other channels:
|
Budget Day |
Budget Hours |
||
|
Channel |
Impressions'000 {Sum} |
Channel |
Impressions'000 {Sum} |
|
India Today TV |
45.1 |
India Today TV |
27.6 |
|
Times Now |
35.5 |
Republic TV |
4.3 |
|
Republic TV |
28.2 |
Times Now |
3.5 |
|
Mirror Now |
22.7 |
Mirror Now |
2.0 |
|
NDTV 24×7 |
18.1 |
NDTV 24×7 |
0.4 |
|
CNN News18 |
9.2 |
CNN News18 |
0.1 |
Source for Budget Hours: BARC, Mkt: Mega Cities, Time Band: 1100-1300hrs TG: 22+ M AB, Period: 5th July’19, G’Imp’000
With a resounding victory on budget day, both the channels have established themselves as the bastions of solid reporting and the gold standard in their respective genre.
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.
