News Broadcasting
BBC gears up for 9/11; to air special ‘Attack on the Wires’
NEW DELHI: In the run-up to the first anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack, BBC World is looking at the event from another perspective. When terrorists flew two airliners into the World Trade Centre last year, they struck at the heart of the densest cluster of communication networks on the planet. How close did long-distance communication come to a global meltdown?
That is what BBC World will be examining in its special Attack On The Wires on Saturday, 7 September at 3:00 am and on 7:00 am, 1:00 pm & 7:00 pm and on Sunday 8 September at 8:00 am and Monday 9 September at 5:00 am and 3:00 pm.
BBC World will be providing extensive coverage from around the world to mark the first anniversary of the attacks on the US last 11 September. BBC World will be anchoring the day’s main news output from New York with Jane Hill and Kirsty Lang both live from ‘Ground Zero’. Co-anchored news will come from Washington, the location of the BBC’s largest foreign news bureau and site of one of the attacks last September, while Lyse Doucet will provide the local perspective from Kabul throughout the day, according to a press release issued by BBC today here.
BBC World will be using a network of correspondents to cover the ceremony which will begin at 08:46 at ‘Ground Zero’. The ceremony is set to last for 102 minutes, the exact length of time between the impact of the first plane and the collapse of the second tower. The day will start with a bagpipe procession from each of the five boroughs that will honour the rescue workers killed.
BBC World will be providing a mix of 11 September – related news including coverage of live events, an interactive debate with viewers, the hard-hitting interview programme, Hardtalk with Tim Sebastian, as well as the channel’s regular business, sport and general news offering. BBC World will give viewers an international perspective with coverage from key locations around the world including Jon Sopel in Paris, Tristana Moore in Berlin, Orla Guerin in Jerusalem and Paul Wood in Cairo.
A new interactive segment hosted in London by BBC World news anchor, Nik Gowing, at key points during the day will allow viewers to send in their comments via e-mail, text message, telephone and fax. Using the BBC’s recently launched international-facing website www.bbcnews.com, viewers will be able to send in their comments and access in-depth analysis of the consequences of last year’s attacks.
In the fortnight running up to 11 September, BBC World will also air specially commissioned news features related to the US attacks. These will include a series of one to one interviews with world leaders, including Vladimir Putin.
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.
