News Broadcasting
Times NOW announces special programming line-up for upcoming Assembly Elections under Mandate 2018
MUMBAI: Times NOW, India’s leading English News channel announces an unmatched programming line-up for the upcoming Assembly Elections under Mandate 2018. With an exclusive association with CNX Media, a leading research consultancy headed by Psephologist Bhawesh Jha, Times NOW will use big data analytics and mathematical models to bring the viewer a holistic news watching experience.
With Mandate 2018, Times NOW, India's election news headquarters will once again be at the forefront of election news coverage tracking the state assembly elections of five states, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana. Through engaging properties, Times NOW promises to make the election coverage more exciting and captivating for its viewers.
1. Pre-Poll Surveys: Every Thursday, from 6p.m. to 8p.m., TIMES NOW will broadcast a set of Opinion Polls through its association with CNX Media, for an in-depth analysis of high-quality data on voting, public opinion, and political participation.
2. Inside: A weekend magazine show starting November 03, 2018 at 11:30a.m. that will bring the viewers close to the heat and hustle of the elections and the candidates in the fray will delve in detail about the issues in each of the five states. The show will follow top candidates as they canvass in this crucial election and attempts to bring to the viewers the issues that the voters are facing.
3. Exit Poll: With the final state polling on December 07, 2018, TIMES NOW will broadcast the exit poll 5.30 p.m. onwards. Using state of the art technology and on ground field research in association with CNX Media, the Polls will map 639 seats across 5 states and later, the data will be processed to call a projection for a state.
4. Result Day (LIVE): December 11, 2018, 6.00 am onwards, Times NOW will bring Result Day Live, a new age look at election result analysis, moving away from the traditional analysis like swing and vote patterns. Featuring the country's top Election Data Analyst & psephologist Jai Mrug, TIMES NOW will bring several unique properties that help viewers understand the sentiments of the voters and why the result has shaped the way it is.
As an established leader in the English News segment, Times NOW, is the viewers preferred channel during elections. Driven by the channel’s formidable team led by Rahul Shivshankar – Editor-in-Chief and Navika Kumar, Managing Editor, Times NOW, will bring a stellar panel of former journalists and political analysts including, Neerja Chowdhury – Senior Journalist, R Rajagopalan – Senior Journalist, Sanjeev Shrivastava – Political Analyst, Saba Naqvi – Senior Journalist, Shehzad Poonawala – Political Analyst, Rajeev Desai – Political Analyst, Ashutosh Mishra – Senior Journalist, Rashid Kidwai – Senior Journalist, R Jagannathan -Senior Journalist and Abdul Razzak -Political Analyst to analyse every move of the election for the viewers.
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.
