New Delhi: News18 India on Monday announced the revamp of its primetime programming line-up, bringing together seven anchors across a nearly eight-hour block aimed at strengthening the channel’s coverage across geopolitics, politics, field reporting, explainers and debate. The new line-up features Major Gaurav Arya, Arpita Arya, Prateek Trivedi, Amish Devgan, Kishore Ajwani, Sushant Sinha and Aman Chopra. In an internal email to the team, Jyoti Kamal, Managing Editor, News18 India, said the revamp had been designed to reflect changing viewer needs. “Leadership in news isn’t just about reach - it’s about staying relevant,” Kamal wrote in the email. He said News18 India had “deliberately rebuilt its primetime lineup” by assembling anchors and formats that cover different dimensions of the news cycle. The programming block starts at 3.45 pm with Command Centre, anchored by Major Gaurav Arya. The show is positioned around strategic affairs, security and geopolitics, drawing on Arya’s military background. Kamal said Arya’s “Seedhi Baat Samjhiye” approach is aimed at making complex strategic and security issues accessible without diluting their importance. At 4.50 pm, Arpita Arya anchors Goonj. Her return to News18 India is being positioned around sharp questioning and a format aimed at younger, digitally engaged viewers. According to the internal note, Goonj will focus on cutting through competing narratives to identify the issue that resonates most with viewers. At 5.50 pm, Prateek Trivedi leads Bhaiyaji Kahin, a high-energy field-led format built around public voices and grassroots conversations. The email described the show as one that “lets India speak to Bharat”, reflecting the channel’s view that many important voices are found outside the studio. At 6.50 pm, Amish Devgan continues with Aar Paar, one of the channel’s key political primetime properties. Kamal said the show has become a benchmark for political primetime, adding that Devgan’s ability to frame and reframe the national conversation means the show does not merely reflect the day’s debates but also shapes them. At 7.50 pm, Kishore Ajwani anchors Sau Baat Ki Ek Baat. The show is positioned as a research-backed format that connects developments across the news cycle. “Kishore connects the dots. Where others see separate events, he identifies patterns,” Kamal wrote, adding that the show is backed by a “360-degree editorial process”. On weekends, the format will extend into exclusive interviews with newsmakers. At 8.50 pm, Sushant Sinha anchors Desh Ki Pathshala, which is positioned around explanatory journalism. The email said audiences no longer want to know only what happened, but also want to understand the “why, when, where and how” behind major stories. At 10 pm, Aman Chopra anchors Desh Nahi Jhukne Denge. The show continues in the line-up with its focus on national sentiment and debate-led programming. Kamal described Chopra’s show as one with “one of the strongest brand identities in Hindi primetime”. The internal note said the revamp brings together distinct editorial voices rather than placing similar formats back to back. “Taken together, these eight hours represent a deliberate editorial architecture: strategy, politics, field reporting, explainers, and debate - each distinct, all complementary, united by a single purpose. Helping viewers make sense of a fast-moving world,” Kamal wrote. The revamp comes at a time when Hindi news channels are trying to sharpen primetime appointment viewing amid changing audience behaviour across television and digital platforms.
News18 India revamps primetime line-up with seven-anchor block
New Delhi: News18 India on Monday announced the revamp of its primetime programming line-up, bringing together seven anchors across a nearly eight-hour block aimed at strengthening the channel’s coverage across geopolitics, politics, field reporting, explainers and debate. The new line-up features Major Gaurav Arya, Arpita Arya, Prateek Trivedi, Amish Devgan, Kishore Ajwani, Sushant Sinha and Aman Chopra. In an internal email to the team, Jyoti Kamal, Managing Editor, News18 India, said the revamp had been designed to reflect changing viewer needs. “Leadership in news isn’t just about reach - it’s about staying relevant,” Kamal wrote in the email. He said News18 India had “deliberately rebuilt its primetime lineup” by assembling anchors and formats that cover different dimensions of the news cycle. The programming block starts at 3.45 pm with Command Centre, anchored by Major Gaurav Arya. The show is positioned around strategic affairs, security and geopolitics, drawing on Arya’s military background. Kamal said Arya’s “Seedhi Baat Samjhiye” approach is aimed at making complex strategic and security issues accessible without diluting their importance. At 4.50 pm, Arpita Arya anchors Goonj. Her return to News18 India is being positioned around sharp questioning and a format aimed at younger, digitally engaged viewers. According to the internal note, Goonj will focus on cutting through competing narratives to identify the issue that resonates most with viewers. At 5.50 pm, Prateek Trivedi leads Bhaiyaji Kahin, a high-energy field-led format built around public voices and grassroots conversations. The email described the show as one that “lets India speak to Bharat”, reflecting the channel’s view that many important voices are found outside the studio. At 6.50 pm, Amish Devgan continues with Aar Paar, one of the channel’s key political primetime properties. Kamal said the show has become a benchmark for political primetime, adding that Devgan’s ability to frame and reframe the national conversation means the show does not merely reflect the day’s debates but also shapes them. At 7.50 pm, Kishore Ajwani anchors Sau Baat Ki Ek Baat. The show is positioned as a research-backed format that connects developments across the news cycle. “Kishore connects the dots. Where others see separate events, he identifies patterns,” Kamal wrote, adding that the show is backed by a “360-degree editorial process”. On weekends, the format will extend into exclusive interviews with newsmakers. At 8.50 pm, Sushant Sinha anchors Desh Ki Pathshala, which is positioned around explanatory journalism. The email said audiences no longer want to know only what happened, but also want to understand the “why, when, where and how” behind major stories. At 10 pm, Aman Chopra anchors Desh Nahi Jhukne Denge. The show continues in the line-up with its focus on national sentiment and debate-led programming. Kamal described Chopra’s show as one with “one of the strongest brand identities in Hindi primetime”. The internal note said the revamp brings together distinct editorial voices rather than placing similar formats back to back. “Taken together, these eight hours represent a deliberate editorial architecture: strategy, politics, field reporting, explainers, and debate - each distinct, all complementary, united by a single purpose. Helping viewers make sense of a fast-moving world,” Kamal wrote. The revamp comes at a time when Hindi news channels are trying to sharpen primetime appointment viewing amid changing audience behaviour across television and digital platforms.
