News Broadcasting
BBC Worldwide reaches the Middle East on three major platforms
MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC’s commercial arm BBC Worldwide has announced that two channels, BBC Prime and BBC Food, are now successfully established on three key media platforms in the Middle East. The announcement was made at the Gulf News Ideal Home Show in Dubai.
Entertainment channel BBC Prime is available to audiences on the Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network across the entire region, and via cable, on E-Vision in the UAE. Orbit, which positions itself as the world’s first fully digital, multi-channel and multi lingual pay television platform, owns and broadcasts on 33 television channels and 20 music radio stations to the Middle East and North Africa, while E-Vision is the only cable TV provider in the UAE.
BBC Prime’s presence on these two platforms is essential for the success and growth of the channels in the region. The channel delivers the best of British entertainment. Highlights for the new season include live coverage of the Bafta awards, the dramas Canterbury Tales and A Thing Called Love and comedies like Little Britain and The Kumars at No. 42.
BBC Food launched on Showtime. BBC Food brings viewers hot tips from celebrity chefs, including All The Queens Cooks and Saturday Kitchen’s Antony Worrall Thompson and Lesley Waters on Ready Steady Cook, and plenty of gourmet dishes and exotic flavours to tempt the taste buds from around the globe.
BBC Worldwide director of channels Wayne Dunsford said, “The successful relationships we have cemented with Orbit, E-Vision and Showtime, demonstrate a commitment to broadcasting quality, BBC content in the region. We are delighted to be working with the leading networks in the Middle East, and are proud to bring all four media players together at the Gulf News Ideal Home Show.”
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.
