News Broadcasting
ET NOW trail blazes lnterim Budget 2019 viewership
MUMBAI: ET NOW, India's leading English business news channel from Times Network, has emerged as the clear winner for the viewership on the Budget day, February 1, 2019. Leading the Budget day coverage in the English Business News category, ET Now garnered a market share of 73% (Source BARC 22+ AB All India 1mn+, 1st Feb 19, 24 Hrs) and a whopping 82% share in metro cities (Source: BARC 22 +AB, 6 Metros, 1st Feb, 24 Hrs) to become the ultimate budget news destination. Budget speech by Finance Minister aired from 11:00am-1:00pm on 1st Feb’19 was most watched on ET Now with 51% market share (BARC 22+ AB; All India 1mn+).
In the build-up to the Budget day with ‘Poll Vault’, ET Now featured a series of shows that focussed on the growth agenda for the government by bringing industry leaders from across sectors face to face with top policy-makers. Following the budget announcement, ET Now was the only news channel to interview the Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley and Former Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram on the day of budget.
Commenting on the ratings, Nikunj Dalmia, Managing Editor, ET Now said, “The right blend of content and in-depth analysis by experts and economists has led ET Now to rise ahead this budget. Country’s top policy-makers, including Finance Minister chose ET NOW as their choice is an endorsement of the channel’s preference amongst India’s think-tanks. The massive viewership that ET Now has received for Interim Budget 2019 is a clear indication that we have been successful in delivering the most comprehensive budget reportage to our viewers”.
An inclusive public outreach employed by ET Now, with its cutting-edge innovation led to live broadcast of budget for thousands of citizens at Churchgate station in Mumbai. Capturing the economic and political fervour of the Interim Budget with its unmatched content line up, ET Now brought together eminent policy makers, politicians, corporate honchos and think tanks including Jayant Sinha, MP & MoS – Civil Aviation ,Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Civil Aviation, R Gopalan, Former Finance Secretary, Arundhati Bhattacharya, Former Chairman – SBI, Keki Mistry – VC & CEO -HDFC, Subhash Chandra Garg, Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs, Krishnamurthy Subramanian, Chief Economic Advisor, Sanjeev Sanyal, Principal Economic Advisor- Ministry of Finance and Raamdeo Agrawal, MD & Co Founder, Motilal Oswal amongst others.
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.
