News Broadcasting
15 million watch Granada’s Michael documentary
LONDON: The man the pop world now loves to laugh at can still draw viewers like nobody in the business. British broadcaster Granada said its Living with Michael Jackson documentary netted an average of 14 million viewers on Monday, around double the usual UK viewer figures for entertainment programmes.
The 90-minute documentary, consisting of exclusive interviews conducted by British journalist Martin Bashir while he spent eight months with the reclusive star, peaked at 15 million viewers, giving it 54 per cent of the TV audience, Reuters quoted a company spokesman as saying today.
This probably gives the documentary a shot at the top spot in the ratings charts, usually dominated by soap operas like Granada’s Coronation Street and EastEnders, made by the BBC.
In the latest data compiled by Broadcaster magazine, Coronation Street topped the index for the week ending 12 January with 14.8 million viewers, the Reuters report says.
Granada has already sold the rights of the Jackson documentary to US network ABC, which won a bidding war with NBC after forking out a reported $ 4 million to $ 5 million and has scheduled it for prime time on 7 February. ABC will telecast the documentary as a two-hour edition of its news magazine “20/20.”
The Jackson documentary includes footage of the singer with his children and behind-the-scenes glimpses of life at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in California.
British journalist Martin Bashir spent eight months with Jackson and was with him when Jackson horrified onlookers by dangling his baby from a hotel balcony in Berlin, ABC has said.
Granada is in negotiations with a number of TV companies in other countries, and had already sold the Australian rights to Channel 7.
Jackson may no longer be the king of pop, but he has a proven track record as a television draw.
Some 25.7 million viewers tuned into “Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special” on CBS in November 2001; viewership increased every half-hour for the program, culled from tapes of a Madison Square Garden tribute concert appearance, the Associated Press has reported.
Meanwhile, NBC has lined up its own Jackson special for “Dateline NBC” titled “Michael Jackson Unmasked,” which is scheduled to air on 17 February. And for those who may be thinking that NBC is doing a copycat routine its not the case. NBC had announced it’s Jackson special before ABC bagged its prize.
Bashir interviewed Princess Diana for the BBC in 1995 which may explain how he managed to get the reclusive pop star to open up to him.
An ABC News spokesman has been quoted by AP as saying the interview includes Jackson responding to questions about his plastic surgeries and past allegations of child molestation.
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.
