News Broadcasting
Republic Media Network elevates Vikas Khanchandani as Group CEO
MUMBAI: In a major announcement on the eve of the expansion of Republic Media Network, it has announced the induction of Bhaksar Das as group president and the elevation of Vikas Khanchandani as group CEO Republic Media Network.
Khanchandani will now assume overall responsibility of all the three network brands—Republic Television, Republic World Digital, and the upcoming Hindi News channel Republic Bharat.
Bhaskar Das was President of The Times of India Group and Group CEO at Zee Media Network. He was also Executive President at Dainik Bhaskar Group.
Republic Media Network MD and editor in chief Arnab Goswami said, “Vikas has led the channel exceptionally from the start, up to the expansion mode. As we get set to launch Republic Bharat, I am excited he will along with Bhaskar Das see the next phase of growth and consolidation of our new age Media – Tech company. We are on the look-out for growth opportunities that are both scalable and sustainable. I look forward to partnering and growing with them.”
Vikas Khanchandani said, “We are very excited about Dr Das joining forces with us to help scale the business at the Network. He is one of the most respected media professionals and our network will immensely benefit from his knowledge and experience. His announcement comes just after the one for Hersh Bhandari who joined us as the EVP – Revenue on Republic Bharat. With our current expansion in the management team, as a network, we are poised for growth and scale in business. We will look for opportunities, both organic and acquisitive growth, within technology and media. Republic is a disruptor brand and we will look at a global digital foray in the near future.”
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.
