The BBC plans its largest staff cuts in 15 years
The British public broadcaster BBC will cut 2,000 jobs, representing about 10% of its workforce. This will be the largest staff reduction in the past 15 years.
The Guardian reports this.
The cuts were announced ahead of Matt Brittin taking over from Tim Davie as director-general next month.
Staff were to be informed of the cuts, affecting about 10% of the BBC’s 21,500 employees, at a general meeting on Wednesday, April 15. The wave of cuts, the largest at the BBC since 2011, comes ahead of former Google executive Matt Brittin taking over as director-general next month.
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Davie left the BBC on April 2, having announced his resignation in November following disputes over coverage of topics such as Donald Trump, Gaza, and transgender rights.
The BBC is in talks with the government regarding the renewal of its Royal Charter, which expires at the end of next year, including the mechanism for funding through license fees.
"BBC staff are already under significant pressure following previous waves of cuts… further cuts on this scale will inevitably damage its ability to fulfill its public service mission.
The government must ensure that the renewal of the charter puts BBC funding on a more secure, long-term footing and prevents our national broadcaster from dying from a thousand cuts," said Philippa Childs, chair of the Bectu union.
The license fee rose in line with inflation on April 1, from £174.50 to £180 per year.
In February, Davie stated that the BBC is “staying afloat” despite challenges related to the proliferation of streaming services and the influence of YouTube.
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The BBC, “on the advice of lawyers,” removed a phrase about Trump’s corruption from a historian’s lecture.
The BBC has apologized to U.S. President Donald Trump for editing his speech.
