News Broadcasting
Brand New Australia Channel to launch in Asia
MUMBAI: Australian News Channel and Lightning International has announced the launch of Australia Channel, which will have Australian news, business and sport, backed by the resources of Sky News Australia, a joint venture of Australia’s free to air networks Seven and Nine, and BSkyB.
Available from 1 November 2014, the channel will deliver 24/7 coverage of news, business and sport, directly from Australia’s state capitals and beyond, to audiences across Asia and around the globe.
Speaking during the annual CASBAA Convention, Australian News Channel CEO Angelos Frangopoulos commented, “Our production centres across Australia are committed to produce high-quality news, business, weather and sports programming in real-time for our viewers to Australia Channel. We are excited to be working with James Ross and the team at Lightning International to deliver the channel to partner operators across Asia and beyond.”
Former CNN anchor Stan Grant will get together with many other notable Australian news anchors to deliver coverage from Australia’s Parliament in Canberra, the commercial centres of Sydney and Melbourne, the Australian Stock Exchange, and the nation’s most famous sporting venues.
The new service will include comprehensive coverage and updates of Australia’s favourite sports including AFL and NRL, national and international cricket and horse-racing spectaculars such as the annual Melbourne Cup.
Lightning International CEO James Ross added, “Angelos and his experienced news and production teams have a vast experience of producing channels customised specifically for their audiences, as well as delivering timely content, in a fresh and exciting way. We are looking forward to a long relationship with this fantastic new channel, which has great opportunities ahead of it.”
The channel will be distributed by content distributor and consultancy Lightning International, based in Hong Kong. Depending on territory, Australia Channel will be available as either a premium channel, or formatted for a broader audience.
Australia Channel will be aimed at Australian Expats and a wider audience of those interested in Australia and may be located across North Asia, South East Asia, the Pacific Islands and the Indian sub-continent.
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.
