News Broadcasting
India’s first interactive movie channel brings India’s first crowd sourced film!
MUMBAI: With ‘instant gratification’ being the flavour of this generation, can ‘instant’ movie making be far behind? After causing a buzz in the trade media and agencies with an innovative marketing teaser campaign and a long list of big ticket acquisitions, India’s first interactive movie channel ‘‘&pictures’’ will now venture into previously unexplored territory by going all out to make a movie in just 48 hrs! Impossible you say? Well not if everyone pitches in!
‘& pictures’ is all set to create India’s first crowd-sourced film in just a week. From 5th August the channel has invited entries for online users to name the film that they will co-create on the channels micro-site, andpictures.in. Over 7th and 8th August, users can share their storylines and dialogues for the film via Twitter and Facebook. The best ideas will then be aggregated onto the micro-site where users can log in and view how the story is progressing while watching the entries being sent in real time. This unique and one of a kind initiative integrates facebook, twitter and youtube seamlessly.
Who will have a part in the creation of this movie? While the channel is reaching out to anyone and everyone who has an online account and wishes to contribute to the making of the film, they are particularly reaching out to digital influencers like movie reviewers, Twitterati, film bloggers and Facebook communities of movie aficionados.
So if you are a movie lover, or think you can write as well as the celebrated script writers of our industry, come join the movement and be a part of India’s first crowd-sourced movie!
News Broadcasting
BBC to cut up to 2,000 jobs in biggest overhaul in 15 years
Cost pressures and leadership change drive major workforce reduction plan
LONDON: BBC has unveiled plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs, roughly 10 per cent of its global workforce, in what marks its biggest downsizing in 15 years.
The announcement was made during an all-staff meeting led by interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies, as the broadcaster moves to tackle mounting financial pressures and reshape its operations.
Between 1,800 and 2,000 roles are expected to be eliminated from a workforce of around 21,500. The cuts form part of a broader plan to save £500 million over the next two years, aimed at offsetting rising costs, stagnating licence fee income and weaker commercial revenues.
In a communication to staff, BBC interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies said, “I know this creates real uncertainty, but we wanted to be open about the challenge,” acknowledging the impact the move would have across the organisation.
The restructuring comes at a time of leadership transition. Former director-general Tim Davie stepped down earlier this month, with Matt Brittin, a former Google executive, set to take over the role on May 18, 2026.
While some cost-cutting measures are being implemented immediately, the majority of the structural changes are expected to roll out over the next few years, with full savings targeted by the 2027–2028 financial year.
The broadcaster had earlier signalled its intent to reduce its cost base by around 10 per cent over a three-year period, warning of “difficult choices” as it adapts to shifting economic realities and audience expectations.
With operating costs hovering around £6 billion annually, the BBC’s latest move underscores the scale of the financial challenge it faces, as it balances public service commitments with the need for long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive media landscape.
