News Broadcasting
BBC, HBO’s to co-produce 12 hour epic series ‘Rome’
MUMBAI: After co-producing the television miniseries Band of Brothers; HBO and BBC have come together once again for a multimillion pound co-production series. This time round, the two are planning a 12 hour epic series titled Rome.
According to a report in The Guardian, Rome will be an epic dramatisation of the events leading to Julius Caesar’s murder by Brutus, and will focus on the creation of the ancient Roman Empire.
The series will be shown in the US and on BBC2 in the UK in 2005. Ciaran Hinds will play Julius Caesar and Lindsay Duncan will play Servilia (Caesar’s mistress and mother of Brutus) in Rome.
Prior to this, HBO, which is responsible for hit series such as Sex and the City, Six Feet Under and The Sopranos, has worked with the BBC on the critically acclaimed Band of Brothers. The series was a rage abroad although in India it wasn’t able to make as much of an impression.
According to the report, BBC is hoping that Rome will ignite audiences’ interest in all things Roman in the same way as its 1976 drama I Claudius caught viewers’ imagination.
Buzz is that if the first series of Rome which will be broadcast in 2005, is a success, two more could follow.
The Guardian reported that the series will use the latest computer-generated imagery to follow the key events within the Roman Empire from 51BC, such as Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul as seen from the perspective of two Roman soldiers, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo.
Filmed on location across Europe and north Africa, Rome will also take in the rise and fall of Mark Antony and Cleopatra.
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.
