This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jun/30/bbc-set-to-slash-hundreds-more-jobs

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
BBC aims to become 'leaner and simpler' with new round of job cuts BBC aims to become 'leaner and simpler' with new round of job cuts
(about 5 hours later)
Hundreds of jobs are expected to be axed by the BBC as it tries to become “leaner and simpler” at a time when it is facing a £150m-a-year shortfall in funding and growing political pressure from the Conservative government.Hundreds of jobs are expected to be axed by the BBC as it tries to become “leaner and simpler” at a time when it is facing a £150m-a-year shortfall in funding and growing political pressure from the Conservative government.
The director general has always said he came here to make the BBC a simpler and leaner placeThe director general has always said he came here to make the BBC a simpler and leaner place
Tony Hall, the director general, is expected to warn on Thursday that a drop in the number of people paying the licence fee has hit BBC funding harder than previously expected and that the broadcaster must take radical action.Tony Hall, the director general, is expected to warn on Thursday that a drop in the number of people paying the licence fee has hit BBC funding harder than previously expected and that the broadcaster must take radical action.
A BBC source said the new round of cuts would be “painful” and involve the reduction of senior and middle managers.A BBC source said the new round of cuts would be “painful” and involve the reduction of senior and middle managers.
It comes after the broadcaster’s governing body, the BBC Trust, indicated on Tuesday it would back a decision to move its youth-oriented BBC3 TV channel online, saving £30m a year. The trust blocked moves to use the spectrum for a cheaper BBC1+1 time adjusted channel. It comes after the broadcaster’s governing body, the BBC Trust, indicated on Tuesday it would back a decision to move its youth-oriented BBC3 TV channel online, saving £30m a year. The trust blocked moves to use the spectrum for a cheaper BBC1+1 time-adjusted channel.
With the BBC trying to protect its remaining television channels and radio stations, it is expected that job cuts could run into the high hundreds or more from its 18,000 workforce.With the BBC trying to protect its remaining television channels and radio stations, it is expected that job cuts could run into the high hundreds or more from its 18,000 workforce.
“Having to find another £150m inevitably makes decisions even tougher, but the director general has always said he came here to make the BBC a simpler and leaner place,” said the source. “None of this is easy, but his priority is what appears on screen and on the airwaves. Everything else must be reduced to a bare minimum.”“Having to find another £150m inevitably makes decisions even tougher, but the director general has always said he came here to make the BBC a simpler and leaner place,” said the source. “None of this is easy, but his priority is what appears on screen and on the airwaves. Everything else must be reduced to a bare minimum.”
A green paper on the future of the BBC is expected to be published in the coming weeks, with the BBC facing a financial and political onslaught from Conservative ministers.A green paper on the future of the BBC is expected to be published in the coming weeks, with the BBC facing a financial and political onslaught from Conservative ministers.
In recent weeks, ministers have:In recent weeks, ministers have:
Against that backdrop , the BBC has discovered a shortfall in its forecast income for 2016-17: a total of about £3.7bn collected largely from licence fee payers is £150m less than had been forecast. The deficit has emerged because increasing numbers of people have become aware of loophole that allows people not to pay the licence fee if they only watch catch up television. Against that backdrop , the BBC has discovered a shortfall in its forecast income for 2016-17: a total of about £3.7bn collected largely from licence fee payers is £150m less than had been forecast. The deficit has emerged because increasing numbers of people have become aware of a loophole that allows people not to pay the licence fee if they only watch catch-up television.
One BBC source said: “Change has come much faster than anyone predicted.”One BBC source said: “Change has come much faster than anyone predicted.”
Since becoming director general two years ago, Hall, a former BBC head of news, has drawn up plans to save money by capping payoffs and introducing pay restraint. The BBC News division announced plans to cut 400 jobs last July.Since becoming director general two years ago, Hall, a former BBC head of news, has drawn up plans to save money by capping payoffs and introducing pay restraint. The BBC News division announced plans to cut 400 jobs last July.
With the government looking for savings in next week’s budget as well as the autumn spending review, BBC insiders fear its licence fee funding in the runup to the end of its current charter in 18 months time will be a target. With the government looking for savings in next week’s budget as well as the autumn spending review, BBC insiders fear its licence fee funding in the runup to the end of its current charter in 18 months’ time will be a target.
With a full response to the green paper not expected until Hall makes a major speech at the RTS convention in Cambridge in September, the BBC is likely to argue that the licence fee should be modernised to include catch-up TV.With a full response to the green paper not expected until Hall makes a major speech at the RTS convention in Cambridge in September, the BBC is likely to argue that the licence fee should be modernised to include catch-up TV.
The BBC is set to release details of a new study by auditors PWC which suggests that the corporation is already among the most efficient organisations in the public sector. It shows just 8% of spending is on general overheads, well below the average of 11.2% in the public sector.The BBC is set to release details of a new study by auditors PWC which suggests that the corporation is already among the most efficient organisations in the public sector. It shows just 8% of spending is on general overheads, well below the average of 11.2% in the public sector.
As part of its fightback against those who accuse it of waste, the BBC last year unveiled a report which said that administrative and property savings, pay restraint and staff cuts had already led to savings of more than £1.5bn a year by 2017.As part of its fightback against those who accuse it of waste, the BBC last year unveiled a report which said that administrative and property savings, pay restraint and staff cuts had already led to savings of more than £1.5bn a year by 2017.