News Broadcasting
Justin Bairamian is BBC’s head of audience planning
LONDON: Justin Bairamian has been appointed as the head of audience planning for the BBC. He will take up the post next year.
Bairamian will report to BBC’s director, marketing, communications and audiences Andy Duncan. He will manage a team of Audience Insight Managers that will work with production divisions to help programme makers use audience insight as a part of new programme developments.
The team will also work on key projects across the BBC. Duncan was quoted in an official release saying, “The appointment of Justin really is a significant step in our ambition to put audiences at the heart of the BBC. We believe the expertise and insight that this new team will bring to our programme development teams will encourage greater creativity in everything that we do.”
The appointment of Bairamian and the creation of the Audience Insight team follows a successful pilot project in Documentary & Contemporary Factual earlier this year.
Bairamian comes from a media planning background. He used to be the MD at ad agency Leagas Delaney. He worked on a broad portfolio of clients including The Guardian, Patek Philippe, Intercontinental Hotels, Opodo and Nationwide Building Society.
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.
