News Broadcasting
BBC’s new media director outlines broadband vision
MUMBAI: The BBC director of new media and technology, Ashley Highfield, has outlined the corporation’s vision for a broadband Britain.
Highfield has called upon the collaboration and co-operation of the UK government and industry to avoid a digital underclass. Delivering the keynote speech at the Broadband Britain Summit, Highfield described broadband as a new era in the world of content delivery, and explained that the BBC was already working on an on-demand strategy that would use the potential of broadband to deliver its content in new ways.
He added that a higher speed of connection could offer both the BBC and the UK media industry new ways of involving audiences and providing them with choice.
“The BBC sees broadband as a means of enabling us to place greater emphasis on community and individuals’ contribution. It will open up new ways to involve people in civic process and institutions. Let us create personalised learning tools and tailored services for minority groups, as well as enabling more convenient way to watch and listen to our programmes and services.”
However, Highfield stressed that the BBC alone could not drive broadband take up. The UK government and industry will need to work together more closely if they were to surmount the three key barriers to broadband adoption: affordability, accessibility and awareness.
The BBC could play a key role in helping to drive broadband, said Highfield, through its high-quality original content, as well as its rich archive of programmes. But a fully connected digital Britain could only be achieved through collaboration and co-operation.
In order to explain his point, Highfield called for key players to initiate a digital literacy campaign in 2005 “to target those members of society who might find themselves on the wrong side of the digital divide”.
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.
