News Broadcasting
Carter appointed as president of FremantleMedia Creative Networks
MUMBAI: FremantleMedia has appointed Gary Carter to the newly created position of president, FremantleMedia Creative Networks. It is a new division combining the currently separate departments of Worldwide Drama and Worldwide Entertainment.
He joins the FremantleMedia operating board with immediate effect and will report to FremantleMedia CEO Tony Cohen.
In his new role, Carter will build on FremantleMedia’s creative success in drama and entertainment programming. He will also be responsible for driving the company’s increasing emphasis on in-house programme development, working with its global network of more than 20 production companies, as well as coordinating with FremantleMedia Enterprises, which comprises its ancillary exploitation businesses, Fremantle International Distribution and FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide.
Carter will also continue in his role as chief creative officer, FMX (formerly known as New Platforms), part of FremantleMedia Creative Networks, working with producers to create new brands and concepts specifically for mobile, broadband, game consoles and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television).
Carter joined Worldwide Entertainment in January 2005, having been a consultant for the company since August 2003. He worked closely with the division to set the overall strategic and creative direction and the operational agenda. He also provided central support to the development, acquisition and exploitation of entertainment formats which have international potential, and drove entertainment development activities across the company globally.
Prior to setting up his own consulting business, he was executive director, programme affairs, at Endemol Entertainment International for five years and was responsible for the roll out of its key programme brands. Before joining Endemol, he was international business manager for Planet 24 Productions and a literary agent for Roger Hancock for almost 10 years.
Alan Boyd, currently president of Worldwide Entertainment, will be changing his role in the company. He will take on a new role as a special advisor to Tony Cohen, where he will have particular responsibility for consulting on the Idols and The X Factor franchises, as well as consulting on creative and company issues and producer training. He will also act as a special advisor to RTL Group CEO Gerhard Zeiler, consulting on programming matters and entertainment output across the RTL Group of channels as well as creative training for group executives.
Mike Murphy, currently President of Worldwide Drama, will also change his role. He will remain a key part of the Worldwide Drama team working on FremantleMedia serial dramas around the world, as well as focussing on building FremantleMedia’s scripted business in the US, a priority growth area for the company. He is currently executive producer on Bianca, a 20-part primetime telenovela that FremantleMedia first made in Germany and that FremantleMedia North America is now producing for US network Lifetime Television. Murphy will oversee production of the US version of Bianca in Australia.
Cohen said, “Gary is a very talented executive and will play a crucial role in future working with our producers to build on our tremendous success in scripted and unscripted programming around the world and to drive forward our in-house programme development. Mike has made a fantastic contribution to growing our international drama business over the past few years and I am delighted that he will now focus on the vital task of building on our scripted business in the US. I am also delighted that Alan has agreed to become a special advisor to FremantleMedia and RTL Group. He has done a tremendous job of overseeing the roll-out of the Idols brand and his years of production and commissioning experience will continue to prove a great asset to the company.”
Carter added, “I’m thrilled to have been given the opportunity to drive FremantleMedia’s creative output into the global market with our exceptional team of producers and executives in both drama and entertainment. I look forward to building on the fantastic legacy that Mike and Alan have achieved and I’m excited about the challenge of creating new hits for television as well as for new platforms and working with FremantleMedia Enterprises to ensure the company develops programmes with significant off-air, interactive and international distribution potential.”
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.
