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BBC slashing 2,000 jobs amid budget cuts
BBC must make budget cuts of 20% following a freeze in the licence fee, which all Britons with a television must pay.
London: The British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC) said on Thursday it is to cut around 2,000 jobs as the
publicly-funded broadcaster makes savings as part of
government efforts to reduce a record deficit.
Director General Mark Thompson told staff that the posts would be axed by 2017 as the BBC must make budget cuts of 20 percent following a freeze in the licence fee, which all Britons with a television must pay. The cuts were formally announced in BBC`s "Delivering Quality First" report, which follows a nine-month consultation with staff on how to save money.
The report said it would involve "the most far-reaching transformation in our history. This involves painful choices for the BBC, including significant job losses at every level of the organisation."
It said there would be an "estimated net loss of around 2,000 posts across the BBC" over the next five years, adding that they would try to avoid forced redundancies.
In a speech to staff, Thompson warned that the BBC -- known around the world for both its news and current affairs output as well as its drama and entertainment programming -- could not maintain its reputation if it had to make any further cuts. "It`s my judgment that this is the last time the BBC will be able to make this level of savings without a substantial loss of services or quality or both," he said. The BBC currently employs 22,899 people, according to its annual report.
PTI
Director General Mark Thompson told staff that the posts would be axed by 2017 as the BBC must make budget cuts of 20 percent following a freeze in the licence fee, which all Britons with a television must pay. The cuts were formally announced in BBC`s "Delivering Quality First" report, which follows a nine-month consultation with staff on how to save money.
The report said it would involve "the most far-reaching transformation in our history. This involves painful choices for the BBC, including significant job losses at every level of the organisation."
It said there would be an "estimated net loss of around 2,000 posts across the BBC" over the next five years, adding that they would try to avoid forced redundancies.
In a speech to staff, Thompson warned that the BBC -- known around the world for both its news and current affairs output as well as its drama and entertainment programming -- could not maintain its reputation if it had to make any further cuts. "It`s my judgment that this is the last time the BBC will be able to make this level of savings without a substantial loss of services or quality or both," he said. The BBC currently employs 22,899 people, according to its annual report.
PTI