News Broadcasting
BBC World News to present second series of The Real
MUMBAI: In association with InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, BBC World News is launching the second series of a travelogue The Real. A wekly five-part series, the travelogue takes viewers on a tour to find the secret haunts and hidden hot spots of Cairo, Milan, Stockholm, Hanoi and San Francisco.
With the help of three knowledgeable, well known local personalities, viewers can take a tour which bypasses the well trodden tourist paths.
On 30 August, the first tour guide Cisco Systems VP global Corporate Development Hilton Romanski will be in San Francisco. He will be joined by jazz singer Paula West and filmmaker Tiffany Shlain. The sites revealed by the trio include a fantastic surf beach, a Pentecostal church and a wave-activated acoustic sculpture.
In Cairo on 6 September, the guides will be archaeologist Dr Zahi , TV and radio host Ahmed and famous bellydancer Randa Kamel. Dr Hawass will take a tour inside the Bent Pyramid, while El-Esseily will visit a park which used to be a giant rubbish dump. Kamel will drop into her favourite bellydance costume emporium.
Actress Helena Bergstrom, artist Ernst Billgren and DJ Papa Dee are the guides to the Swedish capital, Stockholm on 13 September. They will disclose favourite haunts including a beautiful spa, an art exhibition housed in a subway station and a record shop.
Hanoi hotspots will be revealed on 20 September which will include a flower market, as shown by performance artist Dao Anh Khanh, a small village that specialises in weaving silk favoured by interior designer Alan Duong, and a cinematheque café and DVD club frequented by film director and scriptwriter Nguuyen Manh Ha.
Well connected in the world of Milanese haute couture, Luisa Bezzi will begin the tour of Italy’s fashion capital Milan with a visit to Caffe Cucchi, a favourite with the city’s cultural elite. Next Michele Lupi, editor of Italian GQwill showcase his barber shop, Antica Barberia Colla, which has been offering the closest shave in Milan since 1904. Lastly video game designer Fiodor Tonti will introduce the trendy Navigli area and in particular a little bar that is close to his heart.
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.
