The BBC has announced a major restructure of its operations in India to comply with the country’s foreign investment rules. The broadcaster will form a new company, Collective Newsroom, which will be wholly Indian-owned and will house the BBC’s six Indian language services. This move comes in response to new regulatory requirements that restrict foreign funding for digital news companies in India to 26%. As a result, any company publishing digital news content in the country must be majority-owned by Indian nationals.
The restructure will see four employees leaving the BBC to lead Collective Newsroom: Rupa Jha, currently the head of India at the BBC, will take on a leadership role alongside Mukesh Sharma, Sanjoy Majumder, and Sara Hassan. Staff working in the BBC’s six language services – BBC Gujarati, BBC Hindi, BBC Marathi, BBC Punjabi, BBC Tamil, and BBC Telugu – will also move to the new company, as well as members of the BBC India YouTube channel in English.
The BBC’s English language newsgathering operation in India, however, will remain within the BBC.
This announcement follows an investigation earlier this year, which saw the BBC’s India offices searched by tax authorities. The timing of the searches raised some eyebrows, as they occurred shortly after the broadcaster aired a documentary critical of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the UK. However, the Indian government stated that the searches were lawful and unrelated to the documentary, which was not aired in India.
The BBC has a long-standing presence in India, with more than 300 staff currently working across its services in the country. The corporation first broadcast in Hindi in 1940, and its operations in India have been “steeped in a rich history,” according to Jonathan Munro, BBC News deputy CEO. The formation of Collective Newsroom marks a new chapter in the BBC’s journey in India, ensuring compliance with local regulations while continuing to provide high-quality content to its diverse audience.
Under the agreement between the BBC and Collective Newsroom, audiences in India can expect the same level of informative, educational, and entertaining content from the BBC’s Indian language services. This ensures that the diverse and highly engaged population in India will continue to benefit from the BBC’s unmatched journalism and storytelling.
The new regulatory requirements in India reflect a growing trend globally, as governments seek to have more control over digital news content within their borders. While this move may limit foreign investment in India’s digital news sector, it also presents an opportunity for indigenous media organizations to thrive and play a significant role in shaping the country’s media landscape. It remains to be seen how this shift will impact the overall diversity and competitiveness of the Indian news industry.
Foreign companies operating in India need to stay cautious and ensure compliance with the country’s ever-evolving foreign investment rules. This includes closely monitoring regulatory changes and adapting their operations accordingly. Companies should also consider collaborating or forming partnerships with local entities to navigate these regulations more effectively and maintain a strong presence in India’s digital news market.
The BBC’s restructuring in India serves as a reminder of the complex regulatory landscape that media organizations face when operating globally. Adapting to local regulations and fostering strong relationships with local stakeholders are crucial to long-term success in foreign markets.
