News Broadcasting
CNN-IBN deploys Snell & Wilcox IQ Modular systems for JV with CNN
NEW DELHI March 1, 2006 : CNN-IBN, a news and information channel being launched in India by TV18 Group Company’s Global Broadcast News (GBN) and Turner International, has deployed Snell & Wilcox’s IQ Modular products for an easily reconfigurable and scalable broadcast infrastructure backbone.
Television Eighteen India Ltd (TV18) is India’s premier news broadcaster and the owner of CNBC TV18. The new CNN-IBN service will build upon TV18’s newsgathering experience and CNN’s extensive global news network to provide audiences with business and consumer news.
Whenever we implement a new project, we are under tight deadlines, and we need reliable product and manufacturers to honor our tight delivery schedules, said Sanjay Sharma, TV18 vice president of operations. Snell & Wilcox has always come through for us, and its large range of IQ Modular systems provides us the reliability and efficiency we need for our daily operations. We have been using Snell & Wilcox products over the past 10 years, and it is the first company we approached when we planned to expand our offerings to include CNN-IBN.
The TV18 installation consists of a wide variety of Snell & Wilcox IQ Modular products, including distribution amplifiers, audio analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, synchronizers, and time-base correctors all of which will be intelligently linked through the Snell & Wilcox RollCall control and monitoring system.
The stringent demands of real-time news operations require cost-effective, high-quality smart broadcast infrastructure products that can easily adapt to the constant change found in a typical news studio, said Joe Zaller, vice president of marketing at Snell & Wilcox. Our IQ Modular infrastructure range provides a flexible platform for broadcasters that can be easily reconfigured as their needs change. It also brings the benefit of our RollCall control and monitoring system, which can instantly identify potential problems in the signal path. This makes IQ Modular the ideal choice for a 24-hour news operation.
Snell & Wilcox’s IQ Modular infrastructure system provides more than 300 intelligent component building blocks with which to construct any kind of broadcast facility. The convenience and flexibility of the Snell & Wilcox broadcast infrastructure range has made it very popular in studios throughout India, including at TV Today Network, Star News, ZeeTV, Eenadu TV, and NDTV.
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Snell & Wilcox designs and builds the world’s most advanced systems for video playout, mastering, repurposing, infrastructure, and live production switching. Providing solutions that deliver immediate value while enabling a controlled and cost-effective transition to HD and file-based systems, the company serves a worldwide base of customers in the broadcast, postproduction, cable, satellite, and IPTV markets. In business since 1973, Snell & Wilcox maintains its U.S. headquarters in Burbank, Calif., and European headquarters in Hampshire, U.K. Additional offices are located in New York, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, and Russia. Visit www.snellwilcox.com for more information.
Snell & Wilcox, Engineering with Vision, IQ modular, Rollpod, and RollCall are all trademarks of the Snell & Wilcox Group.
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.
