News Broadcasting
Viacom 18’s Jyoti Deshpande appointed as co-chair of FICCI media & entertainment board
Mumbai: FICCI on Monday announced the appointment of Viacom 18 Media CEO Jyoti Deshpande as the co-chair of the FICCI media and entertainment board. This is the first time that a woman executive from the media industry has been appointed as one of the office bearers of this very important vertical.
Deshpande is an industry veteran with over 29 years of experience across the country’s foremost media and entertainment companies. She pioneered Eros’ early entry into the OTT space (through Eros Now) and established Jio Studios as a key player in the entertainment value chain. She is currently serving as the CEO of Viacom18, making her the first woman to lead a big-four media and entertainment company.
She has featured among Fortune India as well as Business Today’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business lists, both of which celebrate the journeys and triumphs of women who not only impact their organisation but are also thought leaders in their industry.
“FICCI has always been at the forefront of collaborating with various stakeholders across Indian commerce and the government to effect meaningful policy discussions and adoption,” commented FICCI director general Arun Chawla. “Given the very dynamic nature of the media and entertainment industry, this engagement is crucial for the development of the sector and the allied ecosystems. Jyoti’s experience across the value chain of this industry makes her an apt choice to lead the Committee’s holistic advisory agenda. I look forward to working with her.”
“I feel truly fortunate to be part of an industry that is at the cusp of phenomenal growth, straddling traditional theatres to the metaverse and everything in between like television and OTT,” said Jyoti Deshpande. “I look forward to working with industry captains, custodians of brands that fuel consumption in our economy and the government as we look to leverage the confluence of technology, content and distribution to move the needle rapidly towards the $100 billion industry that we have been aspiring to be for a number of years now.”
“The M&E industry can very much be a true embodiment of the ‘Make in India and Show the World’ mantra and I thank Sanjiv Mehta and FICCI for offering me this platform to meaningfully collaborate on shaping the future of an industry that I have invested my whole life in and am very passionate about,” she further said.
FICCI media and entertainment board drives the media and entertainment committee. It counts promoters and CEOs of the media and entertainment industry across verticals like TV and radio broadcast, film production and exhibition, print, animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, AR/VR/MR (AVGC-XR), entertainment events, OOH etc. It remains at the forefront for policy changes towards the growth and development of the media and entertainment industry in India.
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.
