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Thompson delivers BBC budget plan | Thompson delivers BBC budget plan |
(about 6 hours later) | |
BBC director general Mark Thompson will submit his plans for the corporation's future to its governing body later. | BBC director general Mark Thompson will submit his plans for the corporation's future to its governing body later. |
Up to 2,800 jobs are reportedly at risk as he attempts to deal with a £2bn budget shortfall caused by a smaller than hoped-for licence fee settlement. | Up to 2,800 jobs are reportedly at risk as he attempts to deal with a £2bn budget shortfall caused by a smaller than hoped-for licence fee settlement. |
The BBC Trust will discuss Mr Thompson's proposals before they are made public on Thursday. | The BBC Trust will discuss Mr Thompson's proposals before they are made public on Thursday. |
There have also been suggestions that the BBC could sell Television Centre, its west London studio complex. | |
Its chairman Sir Michael Lyons has said the corporation will be smaller and more "distinctive" five years from now. | Its chairman Sir Michael Lyons has said the corporation will be smaller and more "distinctive" five years from now. |
BBC News and factual TV - which makes programmes such as Planet Earth and Top Gear - are expected to bear the brunt of the job cuts. | BBC News and factual TV - which makes programmes such as Planet Earth and Top Gear - are expected to bear the brunt of the job cuts. |
'Devastating cuts' | 'Devastating cuts' |
BBC correspondent Nick Higham said he understood the corporation would confirm this week that it was going to sell its famous building in Shepherd's Bush. | |
He said he understood around 500 jobs would go in BBC News, largely by amalgamating the television, radio and online newsrooms. | He said he understood around 500 jobs would go in BBC News, largely by amalgamating the television, radio and online newsrooms. |
There would also be "considerable" savings in BBC television, in factual programmes, documentaries and children's programmes, while there would also be more repeats, he added. | |
Last week, some of Radio 4's most familiar voices, including newsreaders Charlotte Green and Peter Donaldson, joined the protest at the proposed cuts. | Last week, some of Radio 4's most familiar voices, including newsreaders Charlotte Green and Peter Donaldson, joined the protest at the proposed cuts. |
Sir Michael has said there were "no protected areas" in the BBCIn a letter, published on the Guardian's website, 84 signatories warned of "extremely grave prospects" facing the radio newsroom, with "devastating cuts" that "seriously threaten the quality of the service we provide". | Sir Michael has said there were "no protected areas" in the BBCIn a letter, published on the Guardian's website, 84 signatories warned of "extremely grave prospects" facing the radio newsroom, with "devastating cuts" that "seriously threaten the quality of the service we provide". |
High-profile journalists like Jeremy Paxman and John Humphrys have also spoken out in recent months, prompting Sir Michael to urge staff to stay out of the public debate on the future of news and current affairs at the corporation. | High-profile journalists like Jeremy Paxman and John Humphrys have also spoken out in recent months, prompting Sir Michael to urge staff to stay out of the public debate on the future of news and current affairs at the corporation. |
Union plans | Union plans |
Staff will be given details of the cuts at meetings on Thursday morning, and unions will meet later to decide their response. | Staff will be given details of the cuts at meetings on Thursday morning, and unions will meet later to decide their response. |
Broadcasting union Bectu and the National Union of Journalists are drawing up plans to fight an expected announcement which could spark a series of strikes in the run-up to Christmas. | Broadcasting union Bectu and the National Union of Journalists are drawing up plans to fight an expected announcement which could spark a series of strikes in the run-up to Christmas. |
They are urging the trust not to approve cuts that will further increase workloads, damage quality or lead to compulsory redundancies. | They are urging the trust not to approve cuts that will further increase workloads, damage quality or lead to compulsory redundancies. |
The government announced in January that the BBC's licence fee will rise to £151.50 by 2012. | The government announced in January that the BBC's licence fee will rise to £151.50 by 2012. |
Mr Thompson said the settlement left a "gap" of around £2bn over the six years. The deal was less than the projected rate of inflation over the six years. | Mr Thompson said the settlement left a "gap" of around £2bn over the six years. The deal was less than the projected rate of inflation over the six years. |
The trust has already told Mr Thompson to make further efficiency savings of 3% each year. | The trust has already told Mr Thompson to make further efficiency savings of 3% each year. |
The director general has said the changes he will announce, under the banner of Creative Future, are designed to make the corporation competitive in a digital media environment. | The director general has said the changes he will announce, under the banner of Creative Future, are designed to make the corporation competitive in a digital media environment. |