News Broadcasting
BBC Worldwide inks first-look deal with SPT
MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide, the BBC’s main commercial arm, has signed a three year,first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television (SPT) for scripted series in the US.
The deal gives SPT a first-look option to develop and produce scripted comedy and drama series for the US market based on BBC formats.
“This is a great opportunity to be working with the new management team at Sony’s Television Studio and we look forward to developing exciting new projects with them in the future,” says BBC Worldwide senior VP programming, Paul Telegdy.
“This deal reinforces BBC Worldwide’s commitment to growing its production business in the US,” addsTelegdy.
SPT co-president programming and production, Zack Van Amburg, adds, “We feel very fortunate to be in business with the BBC. We aspire to be innovative and the BBC, with its creative ingenuity, is a perfect partner for us.”
According to media reports, BBC Worldwide plans to be actively involved in the development of as many as 25 projects under the deal with SPT, and the Corporation is moving away from the licensing model and more toward hands-on production in the lucrative US scripted series marketplace.
As part of that new strategy, BBC Worldwide is already producing the hit series Dancing with the Stars for ABC, although that show is not scripted, and reality series are apparently not included in the new deal.
News Broadcasting
DNPA names Puneet Gupt chairperson; Anant Goenka steps in as vice chairperson
Leadership reset comes as digital news grapples with AI-led disruption and policy battles
NEW DELHI: India’s digital news lobby has a new pilot at the helm just as the industry stares down its next big disruption. The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) has named Puneet Gupt, chief operating officer at Times Internet, as chairperson, succeeding Mariam Mammen Mathew at the end of her two-year term.
Gupt, who previously served as vice chairperson, steps into the top role with deep familiarity of the body’s agenda, ensuring a smooth transition at a time when publishers are recalibrating for an AI-shaped future. Anant Goenka, executive director at The Indian Express Group, has been appointed vice chairperson, while Dhruba Mukherjee continues as treasurer.
“Digital news publishers are navigating one of the most consequential shifts the industry has ever seen, from how content is discovered to how it is valued in an AI-driven world. DNPA’s role as a unified industry voice has never mattered more. My focus will be on ensuring that our members are not just responding to these changes, but actively contributing to the policy and industry frameworks around them,” said Puneet Gupt.
Goenka underscored the need for collective action as the sector evolves. “This is an important moment for DNPA and for the digital news publishing industry in India. There is real value in publishers coming together, sharing perspectives, and building a common understanding of the opportunities and challenges ahead. I look forward to contributing to that effort with DNPA members,” he said.
Outgoing chairperson Mariam Mammen Mathew called it a timely transition. “It has been a privilege to lead DNPA at such a pivotal time for the industry. I am confident that under Puneet’s leadership, DNPA will continue to grow in influence and impact. I wish the new team every success,” she said.
Sujata Gupta, secretary general and chief executive officer at DNPA, framed the shift as a springboard for the next phase. “This transition marks an exciting new chapter for DNPA. We have spent the last few years building the credibility, relationships, and frameworks that allow us to engage meaningfully on the issues that matter most to our members. With Puneet and Anant at the helm, we are well-positioned to translate that foundation into tangible outcomes, on policy, on fair commercial frameworks, and on ensuring that digital news publishing remains a sustainable and vital part of India’s information ecosystem,” she said.
The leadership rejig lands at a moment when digital publishers are battling shifting discovery patterns, platform power and the economics of AI. For DNPA, the message is clear: the next phase will be less about reacting and more about shaping the rules of the game.
