BBC To Axe 2,500 Jobs

The BBC has announced plans to axe 2,500 jobs by 2012.

Nearly 400 posts are expected to go in the BBC's news operations, more than 600 in factual programming.

However, around 700 new jobs are expected to be created.

The BBC will also sell off its flagship Television Centre in west London, under plans to save £2 billion.

There were also be a 10% reduction in the number of original TV programmes being made by 2012/13, although the broadcaster confirmed that repeats during peak viewing times on BBC One would be kept to a minimum.

However, the BBC Trust warned that more repeats would have to be shown on BBC Two and digital channels BBC Three and BBC Four.

However, the BBC has pledged to continue making quality television dramas, saying that "high-impact, distinctive drama series of wide appeal and range" would be prioritised. Examples cited included this autumn's new five-part drama serial 'Cranford' starring Dame Judi Dench and other drama series, such as 'Life On Mars', 'Doctor Who' and 'Spooks'.

The BBC also pledged to continue to be the biggest investor in original comedy in the UK, building on the success of shows such as 'After You've Gone', 'The Catherine Tate Show' and 'Gavin And Stacey'.

Commenting on the proposals, BBC Director-General Mark Thompson said: "Media is transforming. Audiences are transforming. It would be easy to say that the sheer pace of this revolution is too fast for the BBC.

"That for us to do what other media players are doing - integrating newsrooms, mixing media, exploiting the same content aggressively across different platforms - is just too radical... but I think we can see both here and around the world the price you pay for taking what looks like the safe option.

"I've devoted almost my whole working life to the BBC, much of that not as a suit, but as a rank-and-file programme-maker. I love the BBC and what it stands for. I care too much to see it drift steadily into irrelevance."

Industrial action has already been threatened by unions in response to the proposals.

NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said: "If the Trust really believe quality news and current affairs is at the heart of what the BBC does and viewers say such programmes are what they value most about the BBC it makes no sense to sack hundreds of staff in these core services. It is an abdication of the Trust's responsibility to rubber stamp plans, which will undermine quality and lead to the sacking of front line staff.

"It is inevitable anger will grow and calls for strike action get louder."

Gerry Morrissey, from broadcast union Bectu, said that strike action was guaranteed if redundancy notices were sent out without consultation.

(KMcA)