News Broadcasting
Nawani yet to say `yes’ to IBF
NEW DELHI: After having retained Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma as its president and getting Zee Telefilms’ Jawahar Goel as the new vice-president, the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) wants to have a low profile secretary-general, a sharp contrast to the former executive director flamboyant Bhuwan Lall.
But the man, who is currently being wooed by the apex body of broadcasting companies operating in India, is yet to say yes.
Former bureaucrat NP Nawani, who has also been secretary in the ministry of information and broadcasting during the United Front government’s stint at the Centre in 1997, is the person that IBF members would like to have as the secretary-general, the post that was earlier known as that of the executive director.
“The IBF board has authorised the president to open up talks with Nawani, but a final decision can only be taken after the person concerned gives some feedback,” an IBF board member said.
According to the information available with indiantelevision.com, Nawani had been sounded out by Sarma, himself a former bureaucrat before he joined the Prasar Bharati. The former’s contention has been that if the choice was “unanimous”, he was ready to take up the new assignment, which would fetch him a remuneration of Rs 75,000 per month.
Though Sarma refused to make any official comments on Nawani, sources in the IBF said that IBF is unanimous on the former bureaucrat’s candidature for the secretary-general’s post.
Meanwhile, the reconstituted IBF board sees new faces in form of Discovery India managing director Deepak Shourie, BBC World’s resident director Vinod Bakshi (all regular members), UTV CEO Ronnie Screwvala and NDTV’s Narayan Rao (co-opted members) and Ten Sports’ Sharmishtha of and Sun TV’s Sharad Kumar (special invitees).
SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta, whose three-year term expired this year has been replaced by Zee’s Goel. Markand Adhikari has been co-opted as a director with no voting rights, after the expiry of his term as an office-bearer this year.
The others whose three-year term expired included Sahara TV president Mahesh Prasad and I Venkat of Enaadu TV. The latter, however, has been retained as the treasurer of the IBF.
Other directors on the IBF board, who continue in their position, include Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea, TV Today Network CEO G Krishnan, MTV’s Alex Kuruvilla and Turner International India’s country head Anshuman Misra.
The mood in the IBF is upbeat as president Sarma is understood to have done a good job in keeping the IBF members together and not letting a division happen — something that had almost become a reality in the wake of conditional access system being sought to be implemented and with IBF members having divergent stand on the matter.
IBF sources also indicated that in 2002 approximately Rs 5000 million dues outstanding against members had been recovered and by the end of this calendar year the rest of money too would be mopped up from advertisers, clients and other media companies.
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.
