News Broadcasting
News Corp launches Mobizzo; MTV, CBS in separate cell phone deals
MUMBAI: A slew of announcements made yesterday looks as if everyone wants in on the mobile TV bandwagon. Media conglomerate News Corp. owners of Fox TV and Sky TV, has announced the launch of a new mobile content portal Mobizzo, to carry entertainment, games and music content on mobile telephones in the U.S.
Media magnate Rupert Murdoch’s group News Corp said Mobizzo would provide a single home for all of its mobile content ,and is currently available on Cingular and T-Mobile phones in the US before it rolls out worldwide.
Further, Mobizzo is planning to open a studio to develop ‘mobisodes’ like those developed for the VCAST launch.
Collections from popular Fox brands, such as “Family Guy,” “American Dad” and “Napoleon Dynamite” will be available as content for download on Mobizzo. It will also feature content from movie brands along with downloaded games and music from labels such as Warner Music.
Says News Corp president and chief operating officer Peter Chernin.”The mobile market is exploding and it makes perfect sense for a media company like ours to create a real content destination for the billions of cell phone users around the world. From Fox television and movie properties, to original content produced directly for the mobile audience, we think we can create a unique and compelling mobile entertainment offering and deliver it directly to the consumer.”
With Mobizzo, consumers can download individual content likedownloads of videos, artwork, music and games for a fee charged directly to their monthly mobile phone bills. Pricing for the various products range from $1.99 to $2.49 and monthly subscription plans averaging $5.99 per month.
Murdoch has ruled out offering Fox shows via Apple Computer’s hit iTunes service.
Also announced was an agreement by Viacom Inc.’s MTV Networks and wireless carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. to provide programming from four cable networks to Sprint’s mobile device.
Music and programming will be available from CMT, MTV, VH1, and Comedy Central on Sprint TV. Sprint subscribers will be able to select clips from, “CMT Insider”, “The Daily Show with John Stewart”, and Laguna Beach”, among others.
Under the deal, Sprint customers would pay $5.95 per month to subscribe to mobile versions from the four cable networks. The Sprint TV Channel lineup is:
” CMT – Channel 46
” COMEDY CENTRAL – Channel 15
” MTV – Channel 36
” VH1 – Channel 26
Earlier, CBS had announced its plans to introduce a mobile video alert services as well as mobile soap opera’s for mobile devices. CBS would offer news or entertainment alerts to mobile customers, beginning next week.
Users can subscribe to the CBS News mobile-alert service for 99 cents a month or to the Entertainment Tonight mobile-alert service for $3.99 per month. Once subscribed, they will receive up to five alerts daily, with photos and video if the user’s mobile device supports such technology.
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.
