News Broadcasting
NewsX ropes in Vishnu Shankar as news director
MUMBAI: NewsX, the Indi Media-owned English news channel, has announced the appointment of Vishnu Shankar as news director for heading the channel’s news output.
Prior to this, Shankar was with Zee News where he held a range of responsibilities including leading output, online news, sports and special projects. He comes with over 17 years of experience in electronic news media.
NewsX co-promoter Jehangir S Pocha said, “Vishnu is a stellar professional who has worked across all news mediums – print, TV, radio and online. His diverse experience in both international and domestic news organisations will greatly help us create more of the quality news content viewers have come to expect from us.”
Shankar started his career with The Times of India and moved on to the BBC in London in editorial positions doing TV, radio and online news targeted at South Asian audiences. In his 12-year career with the BBC, he participated in the coverage of 9/11, major elections in India and international sporting events in cricket and football.
Shankar said, “I am looking forward to working with our young and enthusiastic team to create really special on-air experiences for our viewers.”
NewsX is busy in building its editorial and management team gradually. Last month, the company had announced various appointments in its ad sales, technical operations and editorial and strategy and planning.
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.
