Staff at BBC's long-running current affairs show Newsnight are reportedly fearful for their jobs as they believe the show will be axed by the end of next year as part of the broadcaster's cost-cutting measures. The company is facing a major crisis as it plans to axe up to 2,000 jobs - around 10% of its workforce - to deliver £500 million in savings over the next two years.
Peak-time slot despite cut fears
This is despite the fact that the show is being promoted to a peak-time Friday slot. When contacted by Express.co.uk, a BBC spokesperson said: "We're very proud of Newsnight's success; since its reformat, it has significantly increased its audiences, won an RTS award, and is now being moved to a peak-time slot on Friday evenings. As we have said, the BBC needs to save £500m over the next three years, and BBC News will play its part in contributing to those savings."
46 years on air
Newsnight launched on 28 January 1980, meaning it has been running consistently for 46 years. Prior to that, a 15-minute news bulletin using the same title had run on BBC2 for a 13-month period from 1975 to 1976, meaning its legacy is even older.
In recent times, the team behind the show has been reduced from 57 to 23 after its special investigations team was axed. Staff are now worried that the shift of focus to short, shareable social media clips and iPlayer will mean the end of the award-winning news programme.
News at Six and News at Ten prioritised
The Sun reported that sources claim bosses are determined to preserve the News at Six and News at Ten amid the cuts, putting Newsnight at risk. The show, which has been hosted by the likes of Jeremy Paxman, Peter Snow, and, currently, Victoria Derbyshire, has already seen its production merged with Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg since June this year. It has also had its running time per episode cut from 45 minutes to 30.
Director general's savings plan
In June this year, the broadcaster's new director general, Matt Brittin, outlined major changes to staff and non-staff positions in a bid to generate £160 million worth of savings. Brittin, who joined the BBC in May, has taken the reins after former boss Tim Davie resigned in November, following accusations of "serious and systemic" bias across the broadcaster's coverage.
Determined to make significant savings across multiple divisions, Brittin, an ex-Google exec, has noted that the 550 job cuts made this year will be part of a larger plan to cull 1,800 to 2,000 roles in the next three years. He unveiled his plans in a staff email, saying the BBC must be "simpler and faster" going forward and avoid duplication.
