News Broadcasting
Endemol sets shop in India; inks 2-year deal with SET
After FremantleMedia, it’s now Who Wants To Be a Millionaire format rights holders Endemol N.V. to set shop in India.
The company announced its first subsidiary in Asia and India will be the 23rd country that Endemol operates in.
Endemol India’s office will open in Mumbai on 2 January, 2006 and will be headed by Rajesh Kamat as managing director. Kamat was previously Star India senior vice president and executive committee member.
Endemol plans to exploit its intellectual property within the Indian market in line with its international expansion strategy.
Endemol CEO Joaquim Agut Bonsfills said, “We are excited to announce the launch of Endemol India, which will play an important role in India’s vibrant entertainment industry. Our formats have already proved their quality with broadcasters and viewers around the globe and we are delighted that Indian viewers will now have the chance to watch our groundbreaking shows.”
Kamat added, “I am happy to be part of the Endemol family. Endemol with its formats – Operacion Triunfo (Fame Gurukul), Night Fever (Kisme Kitna Hai Dum) and Deal Or No Deal has already developed a strong bond with Indian viewers. Having demonstrated the strength of the intellectual property, the task is now to demonstrate our production expertise by providing the Indian audiences with interesting and innovative content.”
Endemol India will launch with eight full-time local staff, comprising production and creative Indian talent, in addition to freelancers from Mumbai.
While Endemol is currently in negotiations with several Indian broadcasters to produce local versions of its formats, Endemol India will open with a two-year output deal with Sony Entertainment Television (SET). The deal follows the success of Fame Gurukul and Deal Ya No Deal, which have significantly increased SET India’s market share in their respective timeslots.
SET India executive vice president and business head Tarun Katial said, “With Endemol coming to India, we are happy to cooperate with them to provide our viewers with programming, which has never been experienced or seen on Indian television. We look forward to a long and fruitful future with Endemol and their world-renowned catalogue as well as their local production expertise.”
ABOUT ENDEMOL
Endemol (Euronext; EML) is a global leader in television and other audiovisual entertainment. The Company creates premium entertainment ideas and sells them to the world’s leading broadcasters. Endemol then produces shows based on such ideas to high standards, creating hits with strong brand value. Subsequently, the Company exploits the value of its brands across other media and communications platforms, including, for example, mobile phones and the Internet.
Endemol, with its head office in Hilversum, the Netherlands, now has subsidiaries and joint ventures in 22 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as in Latin America, South Africa and Australia. Endemol is a publicly traded company on Eurolist by Euronext Amsterdam. For more information, please visit www.endemol.com.
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.
