National Geographic Channels International has picked up Beach House Pictures/NHNZ’s two-part China From Above. The special, which airs in July, showcases China’s diverse landscapes, extreme weather, massive cities and infrastructure from overhead.

India’s information and broadcasting ministry is replacing Akshay Rout with Veena Jain as the director general of news at state broadcaster Doordarshan (DD). Jain’s remit includes digital/social media.

Drama series Nathaniel topped the Philippines’ list of TV shows in May, with ratings of 33.5%. Forevermore was second at 32.3%. Kantar Media data puts ABS-CBN shows in nine of the top 10 spots for the month.

Hong Kong director/actor Jackie Chan has opened a film and TV school in China. Visiting professors at the Jackie Chan Film and Television Academy of the Wuhan Institute of Design and Sciences include Zhang Guoli, Li Bingbing and Feng Xiaogang.

Indonesian television stations may be forced to hunt for a replacement for more than US$270 million in annual cigarette advertising if a ban currently under discussion goes through. The issue is scheduled to be decided by lawmakers in the next two months.

Nielsen, has appointed Craig Johnson to head up its Reach portfolio in Southeast Asia, North Asia and Pacific. The new Sydney-based role includes television audience measurement (TAM), radio audience measurement (RAM), Consumer & Media View and advertising measurement (AIS).