The merger of the BBC’s national and international news channels, as part of a sweeping cost-cutting plan, will result in the loss of 70 jobs in the UK, British media reported on Friday.
Already subject to several savings plans in recent years and to the aging of its audiences, the public audiovisual giant, an institution whose influence goes well beyond British borders, has seen its financial horizon darken this year with the decision of the Conservative government to freeze the royalty for two years.
Under pressure, the “Beeb” announced a radical plan at the end of May, with the elimination of 1,000 jobs – out of a total of around 22,000 employees – and an acceleration of its digital shift.
Among the measures taken, the merger of the national news channels BBC News and the international BBC World News, which will be effective from April 2023 according to a press release from the audiovisual group on Thursday.
According to a BBC spokesman quoted by several British media, the merger will result in 70 job cuts and the creation of 20 new jobs in Washington.
In addition to the merger, the group plans to bring several foreign-language channels and services online only, including its children’s channel CBBC and its cultural channel BBC 4. The group has set itself the goal of achieving 75% of its audiences via its iPlayer digital platform.
The new measures aim to save 500 million pounds per year (586 million euros) including 200 million to fill most of the gaping hole dug by the freezing of the fee.
The audiovisual group is going through a difficult period due to the upheavals in the consumption habits of its audiences, with the emergence of Netflix or Disney +, and difficult relations with the conservative power, in particular with the Minister of Culture Nadine Dorries, openly hostile to public broadcasting.