The BBC is tasked with saving 150 millions pounds to address a shortfall caused by a drop in TV ownership, fuelled by a loophole which allows viewers to watch BBC iPlayer without a licence.
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The BBC announced 1,000 job cuts in July and said it would pay for free television licences for over-65s which have previously been funded by the government. The corporation has already relinquished rights to Open Golf. It said: “This will involve rationalising new features, innovation and development across the BBC’s digital services, and focusing on those with greatest impact”.
“Wherever possible we’re targeting savings by creating a simpler, leaner BBC”, added Hall.
– In total, we are on course to deliver the 1,000 reduction in jobs by 2017.
Television will face a £12 million cut, which – with drama exempt – will instead fall on other genres including comedy, entertainment and factual programming. The BBC said it reamined committed to making popular Saturday night shows and will use the savings from The Voice United Kingdom to develop new, home-grown formats.
Savings already made by ending its coverage of golf’s The Open and sharing Six Nations rugby coverage with ITV will help meet the £35million figure but other significant cuts will still have to be made.
The corporation has been told to cut £35m from its sport budget and F1, snooker and darts are in the firing line.
The £150 million set out today is part of the £700 million overall savings the BBC must find due to the flat licence fee agreed in the summer. More and more people are dodging the fee by watching BBC shows and coverage on demand via the iPlayer, rather than on TV (guilty).
Another, larger round of cuts is expected to be announced next spring, with £550 million said to be saved.
It’s expected that BBC director general Lord Hall will announce that the BBC website will pick up the slack on a few of these special events later today.
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“The BBC’s financial position means there’s no alternative”.
