News Broadcasting
IBM’s end-to-end IT solution to ‘animate’ Crest Comm
MUMBAI: ‘Creating opportunities’ – the catchphrase for FICCI Frames 2004 is translating into actual deals taking place on the ground. Mumbai based animation company Crest Communications has tied up with IBM to set up an end-to-end IT infrastructure that will help Crest ramp up its digital animation movie production.
IBM will provide and implement its open source based Digital Content Creation solution for Crest’s next generation digital animation studio.
IBM Digital Media Solutions and Services Asia Pacific manager Quentin Staes-Polet, who was in Mumbai for FICCI Frames 2004, was quoted in a statement saying, “We are passionate about working with an innovative company such as Crest Communications to exploit the flexibility and power of open standards-based computing technology in the fast-growing animation industry.”
Since the IT architecture provided by IBM will be based on the open source technology, it will allow Crest to quickly ramp up or down their IT infrastructure on demand, depending on the workload.
IBM’s digital content creation offering will enable Crest to simplify their operations and technical environment, making it possible for the company to lower the high cost of rendering (creating an image of objects designed in a three-dimensional modeling program) and significantly shorten the content creation cycle time.
IBM will help Crest evolve the way digitally animated movies are made by making the animation process faster, more effective and cost efficient through the use of on demand computer technology, Staes-Polet added.
As part of the solution, IBM is also providing a variable IBM Global Financing leasing program which allows Crest to better manage their costs without sacrificing the quality of the content or the time needed to create it. IBM has also offered Crest a variable payment model that leverages IBM Global Financing options.
Additionally, IBM Global Services will help Crest manage its IT investments and improve operations and performance with infrastructure and systems management services, business continuity and recovery services, technical support services, and maintenance services.
“IBM’s Digital Content Creation solution enables us to simultaneously produce a number of computer-animated shows for our diverse client needs,” Crest Communications CEO AK Madhavan said in the statement. Crest is currently negotiating with clients across the television, home video and theatrical space, in India and across the US and Europe.
The IBM Digital Content Creation solution is a comprehensive suite of IBM workstations, servers, software, storage and services all designed to support animators, special effects wizards and digital media producers.
Increasingly, animation companies in India are now looking at open source technology for developing their businesses. Apart from Crest, Bangalore based Jadoo Works is also using the open source engine for animation.
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.
