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| BBC Studios to cut 300 staff as hit shows move to private sector | BBC Studios to cut 300 staff as hit shows move to private sector |
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| The BBC is to make about 300 of its programme-makers redundant as its £400m production arm gears up for privatisation and the prospect of losing shows such as Songs of Praise to the commercial sector. | The BBC is to make about 300 of its programme-makers redundant as its £400m production arm gears up for privatisation and the prospect of losing shows such as Songs of Praise to the commercial sector. |
| It is understood that the cuts are across the board, covering drama, comedy, entertainment and factual and represents a reduction of more than 10% of the 2,000 current staff. | It is understood that the cuts are across the board, covering drama, comedy, entertainment and factual and represents a reduction of more than 10% of the 2,000 current staff. |
| The move follows the BBC’s transfer earlier this year of the bulk of its in-house programme-makers into a new, soon-to-be privatised subsidiary called BBC Studios. | The move follows the BBC’s transfer earlier this year of the bulk of its in-house programme-makers into a new, soon-to-be privatised subsidiary called BBC Studios. |
| In addition some of its shows such as Songs of Praise and Holby are being put to tender to the independent sector, with – under the terms of the government’s draft new charter for the BBC – the rest to follow over the next decade. In return BBC Studios will be allowed to become commercial next year and make shows for other broadcasters. | In addition some of its shows such as Songs of Praise and Holby are being put to tender to the independent sector, with – under the terms of the government’s draft new charter for the BBC – the rest to follow over the next decade. In return BBC Studios will be allowed to become commercial next year and make shows for other broadcasters. |
| The shakeup is one of the biggest changes to the BBC in its 93-year history and the 300 redundancies may not be the last. | The shakeup is one of the biggest changes to the BBC in its 93-year history and the 300 redundancies may not be the last. |
| BBC Studios is currently a separate subsidiary of the corporation but is due to be privatised next April, subject to the approval of the BBC Trust by the end of this year. | |
| There are concerns internally about the future of BBC Studios staff as there is currently no guarantee about what will happen to their terms and conditions if shows they work on are won by the independent sector. | There are concerns internally about the future of BBC Studios staff as there is currently no guarantee about what will happen to their terms and conditions if shows they work on are won by the independent sector. |
| Nor are there yet details of a guarantee that BBC Studios will not be one day sold off. The BBC has a history of privatising parts of the corporation, such as BBC Resources, and then selling them off. | Nor are there yet details of a guarantee that BBC Studios will not be one day sold off. The BBC has a history of privatising parts of the corporation, such as BBC Resources, and then selling them off. |
| One insider said: “We thought there would be redundancies but this is still sad for those of us who have been making shows for the BBC for so long.” | One insider said: “We thought there would be redundancies but this is still sad for those of us who have been making shows for the BBC for so long.” |
| The BBC’s in-house arm BBC Studios is also able to bid to make the programmes but will have to compete on the same terms with commercial producers as part of director general Tony Hall’s new “compete or compare” strategy, which may, with the BBC’s generous conditions on things like pension costs, sometimes put it at a disadvantage. | The BBC’s in-house arm BBC Studios is also able to bid to make the programmes but will have to compete on the same terms with commercial producers as part of director general Tony Hall’s new “compete or compare” strategy, which may, with the BBC’s generous conditions on things like pension costs, sometimes put it at a disadvantage. |
| Bectu general secretary Gerry Morrissey said the union was expecting cuts but wants the BBC to ensure staff are looked after: “The new system makes it very difficult for in-house to compete with independents and we want a level-playing field created for them.” | Bectu general secretary Gerry Morrissey said the union was expecting cuts but wants the BBC to ensure staff are looked after: “The new system makes it very difficult for in-house to compete with independents and we want a level-playing field created for them.” |
| It is understood that the corporation wants BBC Studios to become more like the rest of the television industry and become more flexible. Therefore some staff will be retained whilst others may be put on fixed contracts affiliated to individual shows. | It is understood that the corporation wants BBC Studios to become more like the rest of the television industry and become more flexible. Therefore some staff will be retained whilst others may be put on fixed contracts affiliated to individual shows. |
| One source said that because of cuts to the licence fee and savings having to be made by the corporation, the BBC’s programme-making arm would have been affected by redundancies anyway. | One source said that because of cuts to the licence fee and savings having to be made by the corporation, the BBC’s programme-making arm would have been affected by redundancies anyway. |
| BBC Studios director Mark Linsey said: “A strong, creative and competitive BBC Studios is crucial to maintaining the BBC’s role as one of the world’s great programme makers – and we are committed to delivering the best content in all our genres. These plans will ensure we can compete successfully in the future.” | BBC Studios director Mark Linsey said: “A strong, creative and competitive BBC Studios is crucial to maintaining the BBC’s role as one of the world’s great programme makers – and we are committed to delivering the best content in all our genres. These plans will ensure we can compete successfully in the future.” |
| The news comes just a day after it emerged that BBC Studios will not have to reveal the pay of the corporation’s highest paid stars in an apparent climbdown by the government. | The news comes just a day after it emerged that BBC Studios will not have to reveal the pay of the corporation’s highest paid stars in an apparent climbdown by the government. |
| Lord Ashton, parliamentary under secretary of state for culture media and sport, told a Lords debate on Wednesday evening that BBC Studios would not have to carry out “full named disclosure”. | Lord Ashton, parliamentary under secretary of state for culture media and sport, told a Lords debate on Wednesday evening that BBC Studios would not have to carry out “full named disclosure”. |
| The plans were expected to affect 109 on-air staff working across the BBC, including Gary Lineker, Chris Evans and Graham Norton, and journalists including Nick Robinson and Laura Kuenssberg. | The plans were expected to affect 109 on-air staff working across the BBC, including Gary Lineker, Chris Evans and Graham Norton, and journalists including Nick Robinson and Laura Kuenssberg. |