News Broadcasting
Star launching sitcom ‘Hum Saat Aath Hain’ 24 September
Launching 24 September is a new sitcom from the Star India stable, fare somewhat different in flavour from that of the staple soap variety stock that Star has leveraged to its advantage.
However, Star has not lost track of what it has identified as the core premise of most of its serials – the politics of the family. Produced by Shrey Guleri, Hum Saat Aath Hain for a change revolves not between saas-bahu (mother-in-law daughter-in-law) sagas but revolves around the tensions between the patriarch of a Hindu united family and his well educated “modern” daughter-in-law. The half hour serial will be aired Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30 PM
Guleri’s Tu Tu Main Main, a series on the squabbles between a woman and her daughter-in-law is the longest running show on Star Plus.
The launch of Hum Saat Aath Hain is part of Star India’s strategy to expand by half an hour its evening prime time band from the current 8 PM to 11 PM slot. At the end of June, Sameer Nair, executive vice-president, head of content & communication, Star India, had said Star was looking to launch the new show to air at 7:30 PM sometime in the middle of August. “This is a first as far as channels go,” Nair had said then, pointing to the fact that the 7-8 PM slot doesn’t normally have fresh content as it is considered a non prime time slot.
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.
