News Broadcasting
James Murdoch appointed non-executive director at BSkyB
LONDON: Rupert Murdoch has strengthened the Murdoch family presence on the board of BSkyB by appointing his son non executive director.
30 year old James Murdoch is already a board member at News Corp., which owns 36 per cent of BSkyB, UK’s largest pay TV broadcaster. James is also chairman and chief executive of Star TV, News Corp’s Asian pay TV service and his father’s bridgehead into the potentially lucrative Chinese broadcasting market.
Media reports say the induction of James has resulted in the departure of Leslie Hinton, the executive chairman of Mr Murdoch’s News International newspapers, which include the Sun and the Times, from the BSkyB board. It may, reports indicate, infuriate BSkyB investors, a large group of which had voted against re-electing five non executives at last year’s annunal general meeting, in protest against the lack of genuine independent directors.
Martin Pompadur, head of News Corp’s European operations, has also quit the BSkyB board, say reports. Among fresh appointments to the BSkyB board announced today are Chase Carey, a non-executive director at News Corporation, and Lord Wilson of Ditton, former head of the home civil service.
Nine of the 16 board members of BSkyB are now independent non-executive directors.
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.
