The BBC is set to cut 550 jobs and close a number of programmes as part of a major cost-saving drive launched by its new director-general, Matt Brittin.
The reductions are the first stage of a wider restructuring programme that is expected to see around 2,000 roles disappear across the corporation over the next three years.
Staff have also been warned that television channels and radio networks are being reviewed as BBC bosses seek to reshape the organisation in response to financial pressures and changing audience habits.
The broadcaster said the 550 job losses will come from its News, Nations and Content divisions by the end of the current financial year. BBC News is expected to be among the areas most heavily affected.
Around one in ten senior managers will also leave the organisation, while some compulsory redundancies are expected.
Employees are due to be informed on Wednesday whether their programmes or departments are among those affected.
In a message sent to staff, Mr Brittin acknowledged the scale of the challenge facing the corporation.
He said:
“The scale of savings requires tough choices, careful work and won’t all be ready at once. We are committed to letting you know as soon as we have plans in your area.”
He added:
“We live in very uncertain times. Our audiences rely on us every day to keep them informed, entertained and equipped to make sense of the world. Making savings while fulfilling our mission means a doubly difficult time for everyone.”
The director-general also confirmed that some programmes would be closed as part of the restructuring.
“We will also have to close some programmes. These are difficult choices,” he said.
Mr Brittin told staff that programmes delivering the greatest value and impact for audiences would be prioritised as decisions are made over future investment.
Alongside the workforce reductions, the BBC plans to reduce its commissioning budget for programmes and news by £80 million in 2027-28. A further 700 job losses within the corporation’s corporate divisions are expected to be announced in the coming months.
The BBC is aiming to deliver £160 million in savings by the end of the current financial year.
Mr Brittin, who took over from Tim Davie in May, warned when he was appointed that difficult decisions would be required over the future size and structure of the corporation.
Among the options reportedly being considered are changes to existing television services, including the possibility of closer integration between BBC Two and BBC Four.
The former Google executive has also indicated that he wants to increase investment in the BBC iPlayer platform and strengthen the broadcaster’s presence on social media, where younger audiences increasingly consume news and entertainment.
The announcement has prompted concern from some within the industry.
Former Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis recently warned that repeated reductions to news budgets and staffing levels risk undermining the BBC’s ability to deliver high-quality journalism.
Meanwhile, Philippa Childs, head of the broadcasting union Bectu, said the cuts would have consequences both for staff and audiences.
“These cuts, while expected, will still be devastating for the workforce and to the BBC as a whole,” she said.
“It seems clear that cuts will have a direct impact on programming and output, and audiences will also notice the effects.”
The changes represent the first significant restructuring programme under Mr Brittin’s leadership and signal a substantial shift in the BBC’s priorities as it seeks to adapt to growing competition from streaming platforms and changing viewing habits.
