News Broadcasting
China National Radio’s web portal launches soccer site
MUMBAI: International media content provider Global Broadcast Networks (GBN), and China National Radio’s (CNR) web have launched a UK football website in Mandarin.
The website covers UK Football, and will support the programmeUK Soccer Review for which GBN provides content, sponsorship and advertising. The programme is broadcast on CNR Voice of China which claims to be the most listened to radio station in the world.
The website will be hosted by CNRNET, China National Radio’s portal. There is a link from CNR’s homepage to the website, which attracts around one million unique users per day.
China National Radio Website Centre head Yang Guiming says, “CNRNET’s dedicated website for UK Soccer Review is a veritable feast of UK soccer for web users, meticulously produced in
collaboration with CNR-1 Voice of China and GBN . CNRNET is delighted to be working with GBN, to provide first-hand information from the UK, bringing abundant content to the “UK Soccer Review / Yingchao Fengyunlu” website.”
“CNRNET is hosted by CNR, the national-level radio station in China, which possesses a distinct broadcasting style. It is China’s largest audio broadcasting website, and via the Internet, strives for China’s voice to be heard worldwide”
The website’s total audio data is two terabytes. At present, with an average of 14 million hits a day, and unique visitors reaching one million a day, CNRNET’s influence is always expanding.”
GBN CEO Sean Curtis-Ward says, “The launch of the website opens up a unique and hitherto unavailable opportunity for our programme sponsors to reach a vast audience. The site
and the radio programme will cross-promote and complement each other. The link on CNRNET’s front page is a ringing endorsement of the programme. We are grateful for the skill and technical expertise that China National
Radio’s web team have bought to the design and implementation of this
project”
Sky Media have also been appointed to provide advertising and sponsorship services for the website along with advertising and sponsorship
of the UK Soccer Review programme on a global basis. The weekly half-hour radio is on-air 52 weeks a year, for a planned three years.
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.
