BBC to cut £160m and 550 jobs

These divisions would also be making a reduction in commissioning spend of around £80m by the end of 2027/28.

Staff have been told that voluntary redundancy will be available, but compulsory redundancies are also possible.

These cuts form the first phase of the organisation’s plans to make £500m of savings over the next three years. The £500m target will reportedly see an overall reduction to headcount of around 1,800 to 2000 and a cost reduction of 10%, over the next three years. Further savings across all divisions will be set out in the coming months. This includes corporate divisions, where around 700 roles are expected to close.

The BBC content department’s target is to deliver a minimum of £100m of recurring annual savings by the end of 2027/28. This will mean: a reduction of around 100 roles by the end of this financial year; a review of broadcast TV channels and radio network portfolio as audiences move online; and a reduction of 100-150 hours of originated programmes across all commissioning genres by the end of 2027/28. In audio, the department expects a reduction of around 350-400 hours across stations and genres by the end of 2027/28, while protecting many of its prime daily programmes.

In the nations office, a total of £33m of savings are to be made by the end of 27/28, with the expected closure of around 250 posts in this first phase. Overall, this will consist of: £9m of savings in Wales and a reduction in headcount of around 50 roles; £4m and up to 50 roles cut from Northern Ireland; £10m and up to 60 roles cut from Scotland; and £9m and around 90 roles from BBC Local operations.

Meanwhile, the news proposals outlined will cut around £25m, with a net reduction of around 200 roles for this first phase. BBC News will be reducing costs by at least £51m by April 2027, with further announcements expected over the next few months detailing further post-closures.

Programme closures will be guided by three main principles: to sustain output with the highest audience value and impact; to meet audiences where they are, reducing spend elsewhere; and to make the BBC simpler and faster – reduce duplication, clarify accountability, and increase the speed of decision making. This includes reducing senior leaders by at least 10%.

In an email seen by Deadline that was sent to staff on Wednesday, Matt Brittin, the new BBC Director General, reportedly said: “The scale of savings requires tough choices, careful work and won’t all be ready at once. We are committed to letting you know as soon as we have plans in your area. All divisions will be making significant savings. Today, some divisions are ready to set out the first phase of these plans, with more to follow...

“Aside from calls with your own teams, I will host an all-staff session on Tuesday 23 June at 2pm, taking your questions, alongside Kate Phillips, Rhuanedd Richards and Jonathan Munro. Please do join if you can.

“We live in very uncertain times. Our audiences rely on us every day to keep them informed, entertained and equipped to make sense of the world. Making savings while fulfilling our mission means a doubly difficult time for everyone. Do speak to your leaders and use the support that’s available. In the meantime, thank you for all you are doing.”

The UK government is reportedly drawing up plans to switch off terrestrial TV. Discover more here.