News Broadcasting
News Corp drops China TV joint venture plan: ‘WSJ’
MUMBAI: Media conglomerate News Corp has dropped its plans to broadcast in China through a local partnership due to increasing government resistance to foreign influence in the domestic media, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
The paper said that News Corp had invested in a complicated joint venture aimed at leasing the operations of Qinghai Satellite TV Station in north-west China to expand its audience reach and help boost advertising revenue.
It was reported that News Corp chief Rupert Murdoch had told investors six months ago that the venture would give the company almost 50 per cent of a prime-time television channel in China with access to well over 100 million homes.
The venture pushed the regulatory limits of foreign involvement in Chinese television, the report said. Foreign broadcasting is currently restricted to parts of southern China, hotels and other designated complexes, with some foreign media companies allowed to sell limited blocks of programing to state-owned channels.
But the plan has now been dropped and the News Corp affiliate involved has pulled out, the paper said.
The report blamed the failure of News Corp’s plans on the withdrawal of key political support for the project plus a wider government crackdown on foreign media in China.
News Corp’s current presence in China includes the Xing Kong Wei Shi channel and a stake in Hong Kong-based Phoenix Satellite Holdings.
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.
