News Broadcasting
ESS to air European Athletics Championships
MUMBAI: Three weeks before the start of the 19th European Athletics Championships, 52 television channels have expressed their intention to broadcast the event.
One of the channels is ESPN Star Sports. Broadcast intentions received to date by the European Athletic Association indicate that there will be at least 940 hours of coverage by the 52 channels over the seven days of the Championships, which take place in Gothenburg, Sweden, on 7-13 August 2006. There will be over 100 hours of live coverage each day.
Host broadcaster SVT will show between five and eight hours of action each day, covering almost all of the competition live. Intentions for extensive live coverage have also been received from France Télévisions, ARD/ZDF in Germany, RAI in Italy, BBC in Great Britain, CT in the Czech Republic, YLE in Finland, ERT in Greece and RTR in Russia.
In addition, there will be coverage of the Championships on Eurosport across its 54 territories. Eurosport will also broadcast the opening ceremony live, which takes place outside the stadium for the first time at the European Athletics Championships, at Götaplatsen in the centre of Gothenburg on 6 August.
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.
