News Broadcasting
Murdoch lands in Mumbai
Rupert Murdoch landed in his private jet at Mumbai’s Sahar International Airport with his entourage a short while back. Special arrangements were made at the airport for him. A Mercedes Benz drove right onto the tarmac next to his aircraft. News Corp No 2 Chase Carey, Star TV India CEO Peter Mukerjea, and metal baron Pramod Mittal accompanied him as they boarded the car to keep him away from the hordes of photographers and journalists who had parked themselves in front of the airport to get a few words out of him.
With the kind of media attention that he has been getting the current Indian celebrities may surely be developing a complex.
The dapper media baron who has been looking younger ever since his marriage to Wendy Deng and his renewed zest for the WWW and convergence has a whistlestop tour of the city planned out for him.
This includes meetings with local politicians, leading business lights, his former partner Subhash Chandra, and also the staff within Star TV’s India operations. Currently, he is in the Star TV office finding his bearings before getting into a hectic round of meetings with the senior executives of Star TV.
The entire Star TV office in Mumbai has been witnessing a bedlam of activity in preparation of his arrival.
Keep logging for further developments relating to Mr Murdoch.
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.
