News Broadcasting
Marcus Arthur is BBC Worldwide MD global brands
MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has promoted Marcus Arthur to its board, appointing him as MD of global brands.
Currently BBC Magazines (London) MD Arthur will report directly to BBC Worldwide CEO John Smith. In his new role, which is effective from 31 March, Arthur will continue to lead on the strategy, implementation and development of all BBC Worldwide’s “passion sites,” including radiotimes.com, bbcgoodfood.com and topgear.com.
He will also assume management responsibility for both the Top Gear brand, one of BBC Worldwide’s most important and fast-growing properties, and Lonely Planet, the leading travel information group which BBC Worldwide acquired in October 2007.
BBC Worldwide non-executive chairman Etienne de Villiers says, “As BBC Worldwide continues to build its position as a major global media company, it is vital to establish and nurture our key brands across all platforms.
“Marcus’s appointment to the Board gives two of BBC Worldwide’s success stories a forceful and dynamic champion, paving the way for continued growth and development.”
Smith says, “Marcus’s strategic insight, ability to cut through complex situations and proven team leadership skills will be invaluable as we build our top brands globally. He has already done a tremendous job leading the roll-out of our passion sites and will, I know, be a huge asset to our board.”
Arthur says, “This is a wonderful opportunity for me and all the many people committed to delivering on BBC Worldwide’s ambitious growth strategy. In addition to my continued leadership of BBC Worldwide’s passion sites, I look forward to working with Adam Waddell and his team as we underline Top Gear’s position as the world’s leading motoring media brand.
“I’m also delighted to be steering the Lonely Planet business in the next phase of its growth and working closely with Judy Slatyer, Lonely Planet’s CEO, to identify even more synergies.”
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to air live counting day coverage for five state election results on May 4
The channel is rolling out its biggest election coverage machinery yet for results day on 4th May
NOIDA: The votes have been cast. Now comes the reckoning. CNN-News18 is pulling out all the stops for results day on 4th May, when counting begins across five battleground states — West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry — in what promises to be one of the most closely watched electoral verdicts in recent memory.
The channel’s coverage, titled Battle for the States: The Verdict, kicks off at 7am and runs through the day across linear TV, connected television and YouTube. It is the culmination of CNN-News18’s multi-format editorial initiative, Battle for the States, which has tracked the polls from the beginning under the theme Road to Power.
At the operational heart of the coverage will be the Live Results Hub, the channel’s central command centre built to collate, verify and process real-time data flowing in from reporters stationed at counting centres across constituencies. The hub combines newsroom intelligence, analytics and on-the-ground reporting to deliver what the channel promises will be the fastest and most accurate results coverage in English news.
Leading the on-air charge will be primetime anchors Rahul Shivshankar, Anand Narasimhan, Aman Sharma, Nabila Jamal and Shivani Gupta. They will be joined by a wide panel of commentators including author Chetan Bhagat; GVL Narasimha Rao, senior leader of the BJP; Smita Prakash, editor of ANI; activist Saira Shah Halim; political analyst Sumanth C Raman; Abhijit Iyer Mitra, senior fellow at IPCS; Amitabh Tiwari, founder of VoteVibe; columnist Abhijit Majumdar; Nalin Mehta, managing editor of MoneyControl; political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla; senior journalist Subir Bhaumik; and political analyst Manojit Mandal.
Shivshankar, who serves as editorial affairs director at CNN-News18, set out the stakes plainly. “Counting day is one of the most watched events in the electoral cycle, where speed and credibility are tested in real time,” he said. “Battle for the States: The Verdict is built on that promise, combining ground reporting, sharp analysis and cutting-edge election technology to give viewers the clearest and fastest route to the verdict. On May 4, CNN-News18 will once again be the nation’s most trusted channel to witness democracy in action.”
Smriti Mehra, chief executive of English and Business News at Network18, framed the coverage in broader terms. “Elections are defining national events, and audiences turn to brands they trust in moments that matter,” she said. “CNN-News18 has consistently led from the front in every election coverage, and this special programming reflects the scale of our ambition and editorial strength.”
The channel has form here. It claims to have been India’s most preferred English news destination for election results for the past 20 years, covering everything from the 2024 general elections to the Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar and BMC polls on the back of what it calls an “Always First, Always Right” record. Five states, one day, and a nation waiting for answers. The clock starts at 7am on 4th May.
