Friday, October 19, 2012

BBC World Service to cut a further 73 posts

Cuts are third phase of plan to make £42m in savings after broadcaster's budget was cut in 2010 spending review

A further 73 posts will be lost at the BBC World Service following its cut in funding by the government with a number of programmes on its English-language service axed.

The cuts, which were announced to staff on Thursday lunchtime, are the third phase of £42m of savings at the global broadcaster after its budget was cut in the government's comprehensive spending review in 2010.

A total of 25 jobs will go on the English-language service with arts show The Strand to be axed and World Briefing replaced by a new programme, The Newsroom.

News coverage will shrink from 18 to 14 hours a day during the week, with a "simplified" schedule and "fewer regional variations".

The number of documentaries will also shrink, from four weekly strands to three, with Your World axed, and Evan Davis's The Bottom Line no longer aired on the World Service.

None of the 27 foreign-language services will be dropped in the latest round of cutbacks, saving about £12m, which will come into effect by April next year. Some £30m of cost savings have already been made.


(Source :  The Guardian, UK)

No comments:

Post a Comment