News Broadcasting
SET’s growth to stay flat in 2004-05
MUMBAI: Sony-Discovery’s revenue growth will stay flat in 2004-05, affected by the loss of premium movie channel HBO in its distribution bouquet.
SET Discovery Pvt Ltd president Shantonu Aditya admits touching Rs 3 billion will be difficult this fiscal, but says a marginal rise is possible. The company had earned a revenue of Rs 2.85 billion in 2003-04.
Aditya says the ICC Champions trophy, the distribution of new channels and an inflation-linked rate hike of seven per cent with effect from 1 January, 2005 may result in a marginal growth.
But analysts see the loss of HBO neutralising any gain the company had made earlier in the year. Sony-Discovery bouquet’s rate has to be revised downwards to Rs 49.40 in the New Year as the price of HBO was Rs 5.60 per subscriber a month. A permissible seven per cent hike will only put the bouquet rate at Rs 52.85.
Besides, Sony-Discovery bouquet will lack steam in the southern region where the main driver was HBO, the English-language movie channel. Also, in the new bouquet formation, Star India with the Disney channels and Zee-Turner with HBO will have far stronger pull than Sony’s channels of MTV, Nick, Animax and Discovery Travel & Living.
“The last quarter of this fiscal will neutralise whatever growth we could post in the earlier period. We won’t have HBO and we don’t have any cricket left on Max,” says a source in the company. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had put a freeze on subscription rates with effect from 26 December 2003. Sony also could not increase its subscriber base which could have fuelled growth in earnings for the year.
As already reported yesterday, SET Discovery has strengthened focus in the southern region by dividing it into two territories – Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh forming one division while Tamil Nadu and Kerala constitutes the other group. Each division is under a regional manager.
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.
