News Broadcasting
Zee MGM aims to ride high on movie festival power
MUMBAI: It’s changing all right. Zee MGM is shedding is relaxed attitude and gearing up for action to push the channel. Be it in terms of programming, promotions or marketing.
The channel claims to have garnered more share than other movie channels during its Bond movies festival from 3 October 2003 till 24 October 2003. While during one of the movies in the Jim Carrey movie festival 12 November to 26 November, the channel shares were more than its contemporaries. Besides the cross-channel promotions the channel also made its presence felt in the on ground promotions.
Keeping up with the competition, the channel makes it a point to select class A and class AB movies. Apart from that, movies on popular demand are also selected. Zee’s movie arm aims to bolster it with good promotion and right publicity. According to the channel sources, during the airing of one of the Bond movies the channel chase shot up to 2.07 percent as compared HBO 0.62 per cent and Star Movie 0.32 per cent in Mumbai. Even in the capital Delhi, the channel shares were 1.41 per cent, as for the competition it was 0.94 per cent for HBO and 0.16 per cent for Star Movie.
With the 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm being the prime time for the channel, it has divided the time band into slots specific to every month including Romantic Mondays, viewers choice Tuesday Zee MGM Select, The great Money chase on Wednesdays, Total action Thursdays, Bond Special on Saturday and Weekend Blockbusters on Sunday.
The special flavour of the month includes the Oscar awarded movies. While the channel has remained tightlipped, but industry sources claim that there is lot of action scheduled to happen in the coming month.
With the channel having picked up a list of movie including the new releases Serendipity, Confessions of a dangerous mind and Chicago, the festive offering on the channel is Chicago on 25 December at 9:00 pm as a Christmas special.
But how has it affected the channels? According to the channel sources the number of the brands to endorse the movies has definitely risen. While brands like Britannia, LG, Samsung, Nokia, Hutch, Mahindra and Mahindra continue to be on board, the channel has got Asian Paints, Fiat, Honda, Airtel, Panasonic, Addidas, Mc Donald, Parryware, and BPCL.
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.
