News Broadcasting
BBC inks ?100m deal with BT for next-gen broadcast network
MUMBAI: The BBC has inked a seven year deal worth over ?100m with BT to provide its broadcast network, delivering considerable savings and paving the way for future digital innovation. This enables the BBC to move to a new, state-of-the-art network based on internet technologies from April 2017.
The new network will be more efficient, flexible, and better able to support BBC innovation. For example, extra services and capacity can be added for major events, such as a general election or the Olympics, more easily and at a lower cost than with the current system. It will also make it easier for the BBC to work with and explore emerging, data-hungry formats – like Ultra HD (4K), 360-degree content, and others yet to be invented.
The contract with BT is for seven years, with an option for the BBC to extend for a further three. It will save the BBC tens of millions of pounds, making a significant contribution to the BBC’s savings targets, as it capitalises on advances in technology and a competitive procurement to reduce the overall cost.
BBC chief technology officer Matthew Postgate said, “This is an important step towards building an internet-fit BBC and will allow us to provide more interactive and personalised content in the future. At a time when the BBC faces serious financial challenges, it will also save us tens of millions of pounds so we can focus more of our money on the programmes and services for licence fee payers.”
The new network will link all BBC UK sites, including 21 broadcasting centres and local radio stations, as well as connecting to the main overseas bureaux and partners for playout of the BBC’s TV channels. It will carry all video, audio and data traffic, as well as fixed line telephony, ISDN and broadband services.
It will be operated by BT’s global media services operation, BT Media and Broadcast. The selection of BT follows a public procurement under the BBC’s Aurora Programme, which is re-sourcing all of the BBC’s core technology services as the current contract expires in April 2017.
BT Media and Broadcast global vice president Mark Wilson-Dunn added, “We are delighted by the BBC’s decision to choose us as their next generation broadcast network partner. Both of our organisations have a vital part to play in making the best use of advanced technology to support and enable the ever-accelerating evolution of broadcast media.”
The current broadcast network is provided by Vodafone UK through the BBC’s principal technology services provider, Atos. In future, Vodafone will continue to have an important strategic relationship with the BBC, providing a key data centre, telephony services and additional connectivity in London.
Over the coming year, the BBC will be working with both Vodafone and BT to ensure a smooth transition to the new network.
News Broadcasting
News TV viewership jumps 33 per cent as West Asia war draws audiences
BARC Week 8 data shows news share rising to 8 per cent despite T20 World Cup
NEW DELHI: Even as individual television news channel ratings remain under a temporary pause, the genre itself is seeing a clear surge in audience attention.
According to the latest data from Broadcast Audience Research Council India, television news recorded a 33 per cent jump in genre share in Week 8 of 2026, covering February 28 to March 6.
The news genre accounted for 8 per cent of total television viewership during the week, up from 6 per cent the previous week. The spike in attention coincided with escalating geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which have kept global headlines firmly fixed on West Asia.
The rise is notable because it came at a time when cricket was dominating television screens. The high-stakes stages of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, including the Super 8 fixtures and semi-finals, were being broadcast during the same period.
Despite the cricket frenzy, viewers appeared to be toggling between sport and global affairs, boosting the overall share of news programming.
The surge in genre share comes even as the government has enforced a one-month pause on publishing ratings for individual news channels. The move followed regulatory scrutiny of the television ratings ecosystem.
While channel-level rankings remain temporarily out of sight, the genre-level data suggests that when global tensions escalate, audiences continue to turn to television news for real-time updates.
