News Broadcasting
Ravina Raj Kohli parts ways with Star News; Uday Shankar at the helm
NEW DELHI / MUMBAI: The rumour mills that have been doing the rounds for a while now can finally be confirmed. Media Content & Communication Services (India) Pvt. Ltd (MCCS), the company that broadcasts Star News, announced today that channel president Ravina Raj Kohli has parted ways “on mutually agreed terms”. Taking over from Kohli as officiating CEO is editor & director of news Uday Shankar.
Aniruddha Lahiri, director MCCS & MD ABP Group (the majority stakeholder), was quoted in a company statement as saying, “Ravina’s contribution in launching Star News in Hindi is very well appreciated and we at MCCS wish her all the very best for the future.”
Kohli said, “Television News in India requires local innovation and constant upgradation of people skills and technology. We have met with some great success in the past and I am sure that the team at Star News will strive to maintain the strong position we have already achieved.”
While Shankar was unavailable for comment, it is learnt that Star News is planning a major programming, distribution and marketing initiative that will be unveiled in the coming months. And it will be Shankar who will be leading the effort.
Star News is a joint venture between the Ananda Bazar Patrika group and the Star network.
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.
