News Broadcasting
Banks occupy moderate news space on TV compared to advertising budgets: Esha Media
KOLKATA: Commercial banks in the country hold a relatively negligible news space in the television spectrum compared to their advertising budgets.
Also, CNBC TV18 continues to occupy the top slot in banking news space followed by Bloomberg TV.
According to a study conducted by Esha Media Research, State Bank of India (SBI) among all the other banks including the regulator –the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) occupied the maximum space on TV of 20.30 hours in the month of May 2014 that was equivalent to spending Rs 32.73 crore on advertising.
“In other words, SBI, which has an annual budget of close to Rs 400 crore as per its annual report, got itself covered on the merit of news worth Rs 32.73 crore,” said media monitoring agency Esha Media Research managing director RS Iyer.
“Even if the annual budget of SBI is shared in equal proportion between print and TV, the gap between news space and advertising space is extremely wide,” Iyer added.
The study covered around 10 banks, both from the public and private sector. The total coverage cumulatively achieved in terms of advertising replacement value on TV was Rs 231 crore in May 2014 compared to Rs 214 crore in April 2014, Iyer informed referring to the study.
During the month of May, there was a trend reversal with public sector bank occupying more space than private sector banks, who had in April occupied more TV news space.
The Reserve Bank of India followed SBI in occupying more TV space though there was no credit policy statement during the month. Fourth quarter earnings of banks were key topics that governed the news spectrum during the month.
Among the individual spokesperson, RBI governor Raghuram Rajan occupied the top slot followed by Uday Kotak of Kotak Mahindra Bank.
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.
