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BBC 'to close recipes website' as part of £15m savings | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The BBC Food website carrying more than 11,000 recipes is to close as part of a plan to cut £15m from the corporation's online budget, a BBC source has said. | |
All existing recipes are likely to be archived, though whether some could move to the commercial BBC Good Food website is still to be decided. | |
TV show recipes will be posted online but only made available for 30 days. | TV show recipes will be posted online but only made available for 30 days. |
The BBC source said online services had to be "high-quality, distinctive, and offer genuine public value". | |
It follows the publication of the government's White Paper on the future of the BBC last week. | It follows the publication of the government's White Paper on the future of the BBC last week. |
What is the BBC White Paper about? | What is the BBC White Paper about? |
What is the government proposing? | What is the government proposing? |
James Harding, director of BBC news and current affairs, is expected to brief staff later about the future of online services and the BBC television channels. | James Harding, director of BBC news and current affairs, is expected to brief staff later about the future of online services and the BBC television channels. |
A BBC source said: "What we do has to be high quality, distinctive, and offer genuine public value. | A BBC source said: "What we do has to be high quality, distinctive, and offer genuine public value. |
"While our audiences expect us to be online, we have never sought to be all things to all people and the changes being announced will ensure that we are not." | "While our audiences expect us to be online, we have never sought to be all things to all people and the changes being announced will ensure that we are not." |
The plans are not thought to affect services operated by the corporation's commercial arm BBC Worldwide, including BBC Good Food, which is not paid for by the licence fee and does charge for some recipes. | The plans are not thought to affect services operated by the corporation's commercial arm BBC Worldwide, including BBC Good Food, which is not paid for by the licence fee and does charge for some recipes. |
Analysis | Analysis |
BBC reporter, Catriona Renton | BBC reporter, Catriona Renton |
The BBC Food website has recipes ranging from how to bake bread, to mastering the perfect lobster thermidor. | The BBC Food website has recipes ranging from how to bake bread, to mastering the perfect lobster thermidor. |
There are more than 500 ideas for salads and 3,628 recipes for pies alone. | There are more than 500 ideas for salads and 3,628 recipes for pies alone. |
But as part of the BBC's aim to offer a slimmed-down, distinctive online service, these are set to be taken off the menu. | But as part of the BBC's aim to offer a slimmed-down, distinctive online service, these are set to be taken off the menu. |
'Distinctive content' | 'Distinctive content' |
Last year, Chancellor George Osborne said the BBC website was becoming "a bit more imperial in its ambitions". | Last year, Chancellor George Osborne said the BBC website was becoming "a bit more imperial in its ambitions". |
"If you've got a website that's got features and cooking recipes - effectively the BBC website becomes the national newspaper as well as the national broadcaster. | "If you've got a website that's got features and cooking recipes - effectively the BBC website becomes the national newspaper as well as the national broadcaster. |
"There are those sorts of issues we need to look at very carefully," he said. | "There are those sorts of issues we need to look at very carefully," he said. |
Outlining the White Paper, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said the BBC must put "distinctive content" at its heart. | Outlining the White Paper, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said the BBC must put "distinctive content" at its heart. |
He announced the licence fee will continue for at least 11 years and will be linked to inflation - and viewers will need to pay it to use BBC iPlayer at the same time. | He announced the licence fee will continue for at least 11 years and will be linked to inflation - and viewers will need to pay it to use BBC iPlayer at the same time. |
He also announced a requirement for all employees and freelancers who earn more than £450,000 to be named. | He also announced a requirement for all employees and freelancers who earn more than £450,000 to be named. |