BBC confirms badger cuts

BBC set to cut 2,000 jobs by 2017

The BBC is planning to cut 2,000 jobs and reshape its TV schedules in order to cut 20% from its budget over the next five years.
No channels will close but some money will be reinvested in new programmes.

All new daytime programming will shift to BBC One, with BBC Two showcasing repeats of peak-time programmes.

Director General Mark Thompson unveiled details of the cuts - branded Delivering Quality First (DQF) - in an address to staff on Thursday morning.

Thompson said the changes would lead to "a smaller, radically reshaped BBC".

As well as the loss of 2,000 posts across the BBC over the next five years, another 1,000 staff will relocate from London to Salford - including the decision to move BBC Three to Salford in 2016.

BBC One, which is having its overall budget cut by 3%, will see a reduction in entertainment programmes "which have a lower impact", Thompson said.

There will be fewer chat shows and panel shows on BBC Two, and digital channels BBC Three and Four will become feeder channels for BBC One and Two respectively.

Some of Mr Thompson's key points included:

2,000 jobs to go by 2017, offset by "redeploying and retraining".
No core services to be cut.
Small reduction of 3% in BBC One's budget but money to be reinvested on comedy and drama.
Extra investment in childrens' channels to be protected.
15% reduction in sport budget.
Elimination of BBC2's daytime budget, with more international news and shows like Hardtalk.
Radio 4's underlying programme budget to be unaffected.
More money to "protect and improve" quality of Proms coverage.
Content sharing

The BBC HD channel will close and be replaced with a single version of BBC Two in high definition. Red Button services will also be reduced after the Olympics.

There will be a 15% reduction in the BBC's sports rights budget, as indicated by the announcement earlier this year to share the rights for Formula One with BSkyB.

In local radio, there will be more sharing of content across regions.

Original programming across the BBC's main networks will be reduced, such as comedy on Radio 2 and Radio 5 live, as well as fewer lunchtime concerts on Radio 3.

Separate news bulletins will end on Radio 1Xtra (outside breakfast) which will take Radio 1's news output. Radio 3 will use shorter versions of Radio 4 bulletins.

Radio 4's overall budget will remain unaffected.

There are no major changes proposed for CBBC and Cbeebies, although children's programmes will be removed from BBC One's afternoon schedule.

There will be reductions in medium wave transmissions for local radio in England where coverage replicates FM. There will also be no re-investment in Long Wave, which will lead to the end of Radio 4 on LW in the long term.

Unions reacted angrily to news of the job cuts. Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of the technicians' union Bectu, said the BBC's proposals should have been called "destroying quality first".

"They are destroying jobs, and destroying the BBC," he said.

Thompson said he hoped a proportion of staff facing job losses could be "re-trained and re-deployed".

15% reduction in sport budget.

including the decision to move BBC Three to Salford in 2016.

Lotus wrote:

15% reduction in sport budget.

digital channels BBC Three and Four will become feeder channels for BBC One and Two respectively.

Errkal wrote:my questions are.

will Top Gear be safe ??

and does this mean we can lobby to get Strictly Come Dancing banned to save money ??

15% reduction in sport budget.

Lotus wrote:

15% reduction in sport budget.

Mafro wrote:

15% reduction in sport budget.

strawberry floating hell. They lost FA Cup coverage to the idiots at TV, and half of the F1 races to Sky. What next?

Mafro wrote:

15% reduction in sport budget.

strawberry floating hell. They lost FA Cup coverage to the idiots at TV, and half of the F1 races to Sky. What next?

gaminglegend wrote:Well I for one will be glad to not ever see the World Bowling Championships on BBC ever again

Spindash wrote:

including the decision to move BBC Three to Salford in 2016.

Oh God.

Zenigame wrote:Pointless, Top Gear and Match of the Day better be safe.

Should just allow some adverts/sponsorship to make monies.

Fatal Exception wrote:

Spindash wrote:

including the decision to move BBC Three to Salford in 2016.

Oh God.

Why would anyone choose to be in Salford?

Errkal wrote:also as they are cutting 20% can we cut 20% from our TV licence bills ??