News Broadcasting
Microsoft, Club Internet team up for GenX digital TV
MUMBAI: Club Internet and Microsoft Corp. have come together for an exclusive digital television service, which will be launched later this month. This new triple-play offering will be the first in France to be based on the Microsoft TV software platform.
Club Internet is a provider of internet services in France and will now lead the delivery of next-generation digital television services.
Part of the Deutsche Telekom Group, Club Internet, which created TV on the web in 2002, will be the first of the Group and among the first in the world to launch a triple-play offering that will be powered by the Microsoft TV Edition software platform and will revolutionise the way people watch TV.
Club Internet’s triple-play service will provide a complete digital television service together with voice and data services that soon will be supported by a set-top box with integrated hard disk from Linksys. The offering is high-definition (HD)-ready and digital terrestrial television (DTT)-ready and will include a vast range of on-demand programming, broadcast channels and advanced digital video recording (DVR) functionality, enabling consumers to control when and how they watch live and recorded TV.
The Microsoft TV-based solution can be tailored to suit the viewers’ preferences, turning television into a more personalised entertainment experience for each individual.
This new Internet Protocol television (IPTV) solution is designed to be intuitive and flexible, offering a simple and user-friendly interface.
Some of the other benefits of the service include:
Changing channels is instantaneous compared with one to two seconds for other digital TV and IPTV solutions.The picture-in-picture feature enables viewers to follow two programs simultaneously.The digital recorder will provide 50 hours of recording time and will be integrated into HD- and DTT-ready set-top boxes.
The TV and video-on-demand (VOD) content is wide-ranging and proprietary to Club Internet: 1,000 VOD and subscription VOD programs and 150 TV programs will be available for the back-to-school season.
In addition to these, Club Internet’s triple-play offering uses a simple and intuitive guide for programming up to two weeks ahead, and the entire library of content can be searched by program or even actor name while viewers continue to watch a current program.
“We are delighted with our alliance with Microsoft TV. Equipped with 1,000 VOD and SVOD programs and 150 TV programs, Club Internet television service will provide the consumer with real added value thanks to its user-friendly interface. With this new generation of digital television, Club Internet is revolutionizing IPTV and inventing television on demand,” said Club Internet/T-Online France president Marie-Christine Levet.
“Working together, Microsoft and Club Internet are helping to create a revolution in TV entertainment for consumers across France. Club Internet can combine its experience in pioneering innovative Internet services with the power of next-generation IPTV technologies to deliver unique TV and communications services that are truly integrated,” said Microsoft TV general manager marketing Christine Heckart.
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.
