News Broadcasting
BBC launches broadband learning service for 5 to 16 year olds in the UK
MUMBAI: UK pubcaster BBC has announced the launch of BBC jam, a new broadband learning service for 5 to 16-year-olds. The service is an innovative combination of curriculum-based activities, video games, audio and animation putting learners at its heart.
BBC DG Mark Thompson said, “Learning has been one of three pillars of the BBC since the 1920s and it remains so today. I am extremely proud that we have been able to design a service in discussion with the young people who will use it, to bridge the gap between home and the classroom by creating something innovative and distinctive which really works for them. Right across the BBC we are looking at ways to listen effectively to our audiences and to give them an active role in shaping our content. BBC learning is pioneering that change with BBC jam.”
The broadband service will see 20 commissions go live throughout 2006. The first six are maths and English for five to seven year olds, science for seven to nine year olds, geography for seven to 11 year olds, french for 11 to 14 year olds and business studies for 14 to 16 year olds.
It continues to build over the next two years, until September 2008, making it the BBC’s most comprehensive education service. Designed as an appealing mix of formal curriculum-based resources and engaging informal learning, BBC jam is aimed first and foremost at the children themselves so that they are in charge of what, when, where and how they want to learn. The service hopes to encourage parents to be more involved in their children’s education.
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.
