News Broadcasting
Sahara Samay’s Shireen to join TV18, Arup Ghosh Jagran TV
NEW DELHI: The Raghav Bahl-promoted Television Eighteen Ltd has roped in a star anchor, Shireen, for its proposed Hindi business news channel.
According to broadcast industry sources, Shireen will be joining TV-18 on 1 December and would be part of the Hindi channel head Sanjay Pugalia’s core team.
The sources also indicated that Shireen, a bilingual anchor, could be used for the existing English language business news channel, CNBC-TV 18, too.
Television Eighteen, on the brink of executing a fairly big expansion plan, is expected to make some other top line anchor-acquisitions.
Both Shireen and TV-18 were not available for comments.
In a development that cannot be stated as being directly related, former Sahara Samay national news channel head Arup Ghosh is slated to join Jagran TV as director of news. This proposed Hindi news channel, is being promoted by Uttar Pradesh- based Dainik Jagran group of newspapers.
Speaking to indiantelvision.com, Jagran TV director Siddharth Gupta said, “Arup Ghosh is a fine acquisition. With his experience, he would be able to give the right sort of guidance that the (proposed) news channel needs.”
Jagran’s yet-to-be named news channel will be uplinked through an Insat satellite from Kabuki studios, located in Film City on the outskirts of Delhi. The channel is expected to go on air towards the latter half of the first quarter 2005.
According to Ghosh, who signed the new contract today, Jagran group is a dynamic one and together the endeavour would be to give a “refreshingly new dimension” to television news.
Both Ghosh and Shireen recently quit Sahara group’s news channel venture after almost three years at the helm of affairs. Shireen was supposed to head a National Capital Region (NCR)-specific news channel from the Sahara stable that has not seen the light of the day as yet. With her departure, the project is understood to have been put in the backburner.
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.
