News Broadcasting
SAVVIS enables international emmy awards judging from home
CANNES: The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, producers of the International Emmy Awards, will now enable their 500 judges to screen this year’s award nominations at home over the SAVVIS network and power sixteen judging centers.
This has been made possible by SAVVIS Communications, a leading global managed services provider and the exclusive provider of broadband to the International Emmy Awards.
The International Emmys cater to television programmes produced outside of the United States. SAVVIS this time will save the Academy time and money by digitizing the International Emmy Award nominated programmes and offering the judges a secure, online screening process via SAVVIS’ secure, high performance global IP network. This will result in the Academy not only saving time but also the cost factor of producing and shipping hundreds of tapes in multiple formats to locations around the world.
“Our industry-leading Internet-based screening process is the future of the business. It integrates broadband transmissions and network solutions to deliver a simultaneous, worldwide judging system for the International Emmy competition,” says International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences president Bruce Paisner. “Previously, the International Emmy judging process was costly and time-consuming. Now SAVVIS’ global media services have converged the digitization and distribution of the nominated shows by allowing us to benefit from SAVVIS’ managed services and global IP network.”
SAVVIS’ strategic approach is based on the use of virtualization technology, a utility services model, and automated software management and provisioning systems. This allows SAVVIS to dynamically provision and manages its customers’ dedicated network, hosting, server, and storage solutions from an IT resource pool offering improved performance and flexibility at a lower total cost
SAVVIS’ Global Rich Media Services vice president & general manager Darcy Lorincz says “We can help companies manage every step of the content lifecycle process – from creation to distribution, from film and video, to images and audio in virtually any format or bit-rate.”
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.
