News Broadcasting
Warner, News Corp, Viacom vie for Hallmark US
MUMBAI: Crown Media, which owns and operates Hallmark US has said that it has been approached by several parties regarding the acquisition of Hallmark.
Earlier this year in March Crown Media had sold the international arm of Hallmark for $ 242 million to a group of investors comprised of Providence Equity Partners, 3i and UK television executive David Elstein.
Parties said to be interested in buying Hallmark Channel are News Corp, Viacom, Time Warner Comcast and Scripps Networks.
The News Corp bid was confirmed by News Corp president Peter Chernin last week. Media reports further indicate that Disney is not interested in the acquisition.
Hallmark Channel’s ad revenue was up 37 per cent to $33.6 million. The network also upped its subscriber fee revenue by 90 per cent year-over-year, to $4.6 million.
The bids so far for Hallmark and its 71 million subscribers have ranged from $1.65 billion to $1.8 billion, which would also cover $886 million in debt. That means those offers would assign a value of only about $1 billion to the Hallmark network itself, a price some network insiders think is too low.
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.
