News Broadcasting
Teletubbies celebrates 10 years in 2007
MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC’s famous children’s property Teletubbies celebrates ten years of existence next year. In this television show for babies, the four colourful Teletubbies coo and play in idyllic Teletubbyland.
They repeat fun, infant-pleasing activities such as rolling on the ground, laughing, running about, and watching real children on the televisions on their bellies. Mysterious pinwheels and telephones rise out of the meadow to loosely direct the day’s activities. The Sun, featuring a baby’s face, comments on the proceedings with baby noises, and it rises and sets to begin and end the show.
The broadcaster says that Teletubbies changed the children’s market forever when it launched in 1997 and continues its success as has established itself as an ‘evergreen’ brand.
When Teletubbies arrived on British screens in 1997, it was met with strong reactions from all sides, children were mesmerised. The press were curious and teachers and educationalists didn’t know what to make of a programme so entirely different from anything that they had seen before.
10 years on the BBC says that it is clear that few children’s brands can match Teletubbies in terms of its overall brand awareness, resonance with consumers or its’ cultural impact. A whole generation has now enjoyed Teletubbies’ uniqueness and appeal.
Teletubbies was created by Anne Wood and Andy Davenport and has been seen in 120 countries, translated into 45 different languages
On the merchanidsing front Teletubbies toys distributed by Tomy have continued to perform well over time. Recent figures released by NPD Eurotoys reveal that Teletubbies was the fastest growing existing Infant License in 2005.
Furthermore, the Telly Tummy plush by Tomy was the UK’s 3rd top-selling infant toy in 2005. BBC Worldwide has renewed Tomy’s master toy licence for Europe for a further three years (end December 2008) in recognition of the strong partnership and value that Tomy adds to the brand. The contract covers distribution in the UK, Ireland, France and Belguim, and global manufacturing rights (ex-North America) for Plush and Pre-school Plastics toys.
To provide new stimulus for product and packaging during this anniversary period a new ‘Teleterrific’ style guide is launching at this year’s Spring Fair. This guide sees a departure from the traditional Teletubbies brand look and captures emerging trends in fashion with a bolder, graphic style designed to appeal to the fashion-conscious consumer of today.
2007 will be marked by a brand and trade marketing campaign designed to support the product range and introduce the brand to another generation of Teletubby fans.
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.
