The BBC has announced plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs as part of a £600m cost-saving drive, with its news division facing a steeper-than-average 15% reduction in costs. Staff were informed that the news operation, which employs around a quarter of the corporation's 21,500 workers, will bear the brunt of the restructuring.
Richard Burgess, director of news and content, told employees in a video meeting that the division must cut costs by approximately 15%, above the 10% target set for the BBC as a whole. He noted that most savings would come from staffing, as salaries constitute the majority of the news budget, which stood at £324m in the year to March 2025.
The cuts come as Matt Brittin, former Google executive, prepares to take over as director general on 18 May, following the resignation of Tim Davie. The BBC has already implemented savings by reducing travel by 40% and tightening spending on consultants and events.
Staff have speculated that further savings may involve introducing mobile journalism kits to replace expensive satellite vehicles, and consolidating local radio services into network-wide broadcasts, similar to moves seen in commercial radio. Higher-paid employees are also expected to face pay cuts or restructuring.
Details of the cuts will be announced in June, with affected staff notified in September. The BBC has faced repeated rounds of cuts in recent years, and this restructuring marks the biggest downsizing in 15 years.
