The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has established a separate media company for India, known as the ‘Collective Newsroom’, following raids by Income Tax officials in 2023 on BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai.
This independent entity will produce content for six Indian language channels, including Hindi and Punjabi. Led by Rupa Jha, the ‘Collective Newsroom’ aims to maintain autonomy while adhering to Indian government policies and legal requirements, especially those targeting foreign-funded institutions.
Despite the establishment of this separate entity, a team of reporters and producers will continue to operate directly under the BBC, ensuring continuity in content production.
Notably, the raids on BBC offices came after the broadcasting of a documentary implicating Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riots, leading to a ban on the documentary by the Indian government.
Despite these challenges, BBC has been a presence in India since 1940, offering a range of channels in English as well as regional languages.
The new media company, co-founded by former BBC employees, will expand content production not only for BBC platforms but also for YouTube channels and other Indian networks.
