The BBC has announced it’s moving the World Service – its international broadcaster – to a ‘digital-first’ model, which will see around 382 sackings and multiple TV and radio programmes cancelled. Making an overall saving of £30 million…
The BBC announced the enormous cost-cutting measures today, having already told many of their journalists to relocate out of the UK. The corporation confirmed its Arabic and Persian radio channels will be closed permanently, while a new “China unit” based in London will be created to tell “the global story of China to the world”. Liliane Landor, BBC World Service Director claims it’s all about “expanding [the BBC’s] digital services”…
“The role of the BBC has never been more crucial worldwide. The BBC is trusted by hundreds of millions of people for fair and impartial news, especially in countries where this is in short supply. We help people in times of crisis. We will continue to bring the best journalism to audiences in English and more than 40 languages, as well as increasing the impact and influence of our journalism by making our stories go further.”
The only problem is this has to get past the unions first. Good luck…
The BBC’s budgetary brinkmanship continues with public posturing designed to blackmail the government. Allegedly PoliticsLive is on the brink of being culled by the corporation in their latest spate of job cuts. After the show was taken off air during the pandemic, the Westminster village TV staple has returned in a once-weekly only format. It has been in this format just two years, following the axing of The Daily Politics…
In related news, it sounds like Andrew Neil’s time at the BBC may also be coming to a grinding halt as Tony Hall prioritises his £100 million diversity scheme. Speaking to the Radio Times Neil said “I would like to be doing more shows, of course I would… I don’t know what’s happening. There’s no clarity at the moment, so I’m just waiting for the BBC to make up its mind.” The BBC often threatens to cut popular shows and stars to focus the minds of the public and MPs; if Guido were Andrew Neil he’d be flattered…
Nature abhors a vacuum and if there is a mid-morning political programming opportunity it will be taken by rivals, be in no doubt. We’re going to be able to get an afternoon dose of politics from the horse’s mouth when the Downing Street briefings start livestreaming in the autumn. Go ahead Auntie, make our day and disintermediate yourself!
