BBC to cut up to 2,000 jobs in largest workforce reduction since 2011

The BBC is preparing to chopped up to 2,000 jobs successful 1 of its biggest restructurings successful the past 15 years. Staff were informed during a wide gathering connected Wednesday, with the cuts expected to impact astir 10% of the organization’s 21,500 employees.

The process volition statesman up of the assignment of erstwhile Google enforcement Matt Brittin, who volition instrumentality implicit arsenic Director-General adjacent month. This marks the largest simplification successful unit since 2011.

In February, the BBC had already announced a cost-saving program worthy £600 million, informing it would pb to occupation losses and the cancellation of immoderate programs.

Outgoing Director-General Tim Davie had stated that the enactment would request to chopped its yearly operating costs—currently astir £6 billion—by 10% implicit the adjacent 3 years. Davie stepped down connected April 2, aft announcing his resignation successful November amid disapproval implicit sum of issues specified arsenic Donald Trump, Gaza, and transgender rights.

Interim Director-General Rhodri Talfan Davies, who led the unit meeting, volition stay successful complaint until Brittin formally assumes the relation connected May 18.

At the aforesaid time, the BBC is successful negotiations with the authorities implicit the renewal of its Royal Charter, which expires astatine the extremity of adjacent year, including the aboriginal of its backing exemplary done the licence fee.

The licence interest accrued connected April 1 successful enactment with inflation, rising from £174.50 to £180 annually. The BBC collected £3.8 cardinal from the interest past twelvemonth from 23.8 cardinal households, with an further £2 cardinal coming from commercialized activities and grants.

However, the fig of households paying the licence interest fell by 300,000 year-on-year, arsenic much viewers crook exclusively to competing integer platforms specified arsenic Netflix and Disney.

In February, Davie said the BBC is “holding its ground” contempt challenges from streaming services and the increasing power of YouTube.

Last year, Ofcom warned that nationalist work broadcasting—including the BBC, ITV, and Channels 4 and 5—is becoming an “endangered species” successful the epoch of rapidly expanding streaming.