News Broadcasting
Kuwait shuts down Al-Jazeera citing bias
MUMBAI: Arabic satellite channel Al-Jazeera may be hoping to take wing into non-Arabic speaking homes but before that it may well need to protect its existing turf. With war clouds looming over the Arabian Peninsula, Kuwait closed down Al-Jazeera’s offices on Sunday account of its alleged lack of objectivity in its coverage of the oil-rich sheikhdom.
This of course is nothing new for the TV station based out of tiny Qatar. The station’s correspondents have been expelled from several Arab countries for their hard-hitting reporting, a rarity in this region where most media are state-controlled.
The announcement was made by Kuwaiti information minister Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahd al-Sabah who was quoted as telling reporters: “The closure decision was not due to a single news item.” Sheikh Ahmad said Al-Jazeera had earlier been given several warnings.
Al-Jazeera is one of the most popular TV channels in the Arab world and shot to prominence during the US-led campaign in Afghanistan by broadcasting videotaped messages from American enemy No. 1 Osama bin Laden and other Al-Qaeda officials, Washington’s main suspects in the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States.
Qatar has had to face the ire of a wide swathe of countries in the Arab world for Al-Jazeera’s reporting but has so far refused to curb the channel citing freedom of expression. Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Bahrain, Iran are just some of the states that have at different times hit out at Al-Jazeera.
Bahrain had said last week that it would not allow Al-Jazeera to operate on its territory and would boycott any local station that deals with Al-Jazeera. In an interview Bahraini information minister Nabil al-Hamar reportedly gave to a Jordanian newspaper, he said that while Bahrain remained committed to introducing freedom of the media, such freedom did not extend to permitting “chaos”.
These “distractions” aside, Al-Jazeera is planning to broadcast in English as part of an ambitious expansion plan. The broadcaster wants to reposition itself as a global news channel to rival CNN and the BBC.
As part of a trial run, early next year the channel will begin dubbing news broadcasts in English and providing a separate soundtrack to the main Arabic broadcast, it has been reported.
And if that proves successful, Al-Jazeera wants to create a full English-language version of the channel. It is also reportedly considering launching separate, specialist channels dedicated to sport and business.
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.
