News Broadcasting
CNBC appoints Charles Lei as senior vice president, Greater China
MUMBAI: CNBC has appointed TV industry veteran Charles Lei as senior vice president, Greater China. In his new role, Lei will be responsible for strategic planning, revenue generation, business development, and building and managing relationships with relevant Chinese government agencies, local partners and advertisers.
Lei will also concurrently be overseeing CNBC’s business development in Taiwan.
Lei joins CNBC with a wealth of experience in the television and entertainment industries. Prior to this appointment, he spent close to a decade with the Walt Disney Company, first at Buena Vista Home Entertainment based in Hong Kong, and subsequently at Walt Disney Television International in Beijing as general manager for China operations.
In that role, Lei’s responsibilities for Disney’s TV business in China included programming production, syndication, marketing and advertising sales. He successfully set up Disney TV offices in Beijing and Shanghai, significantly expanded programming distribution coverage across China and developed new programming initiatives.
Before joining Walt Disney, Lei ran his own Los Angeles-based information technology consultancy practice specialising in the entertainment industry.
CNBC Asia Pacific president and CEO Alexander P Brown said, “A well-known name in China’s television industry, Charles comes to us with an impressive track record. Among the international TV news networks, CNBC has been most successful in translating its content to the needs of local viewers in China, and we look forward to strengthening our growth in this very important market under Charles’ leadership.”
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.
