News Broadcasting
Rahul Shivshankar takes the editorial affairs director’s position at CNN News18
MUMBAI: The baton has been passed, the desk cleared, and Rahul Shivshankar is moving from behind the camera to behind the curtain too. The veteran journalist and host of The Hard Facts, CNN News18’s 9 pm bulletin, has been appointed editorial affairs director at the network—a promotion that sees him add strategic decisions apart from pointed questions to his daily routine.
Starting Monday, Shivshankar will oversee the channel’s entire news operation, from input to output, production to off-platform content. Every team will now report to him, a consolidation of power that reflects his years of newsroom leadership across multiple networks.
“The baton of leadership of CNN News18 will pass to Rahul Shivshankar, a journalistic veteran,” said Network 18 chief content officer Santosh Menon in an internal memo. “He has a track record of having led many TV newsrooms with aplomb, and I am sure he’ll consolidate and expand CNN News18’s leadership as its editorial affairs director.”
Shivshankar is no stranger to the grind. An archetypal journalist—prolific columnist, published author, prime-time interrogator—he now faces his toughest assignment yet: keeping a 24-hour news machine running smoothly whilst maintaining the edge that made him a household name.
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.
