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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Thompson delivers BBC budget plan | Thompson delivers BBC budget plan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| BBC director general Mark Thompson is submitting plans for the corporation's future to its governing body. | |
| 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. | There have also been suggestions that the BBC could sell Television Centre, its west London studio complex. |
| Speaking before the meeting to BBC News 24, the BBC Trust's chairman Sir Michael Lyons confirmed that the plans would be approved, "possibly with further changes", and said there were some "difficult decisions to make". | Speaking before the meeting to BBC News 24, the BBC Trust's chairman Sir Michael Lyons confirmed that the plans would be approved, "possibly with further changes", and said there were some "difficult decisions to make". |
| Sir Michael added: "Let me just underline this isn't a one day exercise, but we will be staying with it throughout its life to make sure it's done in a way we want it done." | Sir Michael added: "Let me just underline this isn't a one day exercise, but we will be staying with it throughout its life to make sure it's done in a way we want it done." |
| 'Devastating cuts' | 'Devastating 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. | 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 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. | 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 about 500 jobs would go in BBC News, largely by amalgamating the television, radio and online newsrooms. | He said he understood about 500 jobs would go in BBC News, largely by amalgamating the television, radio and online newsrooms. |
| Sir Michael has said there were "no protected areas" in the BBC | Sir Michael has said there were "no protected areas" in the BBC |
| 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. | 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. |
| In 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". | In 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. |
| 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 (NUJ) 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 (NUJ) are drawing up plans to fight an expected announcement which could spark a series of strikes in the run-up to Christmas. |
| 'Increased workloads' | 'Increased workloads' |
| NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said cuts would lead to "compulsory redundancies and increased workloads". | NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said cuts would lead to "compulsory redundancies and increased workloads". |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Above all these are cuts which will compromise quality, which can't be good for licence fee payers or staff." | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Above all these are cuts which will compromise quality, which can't be good for licence fee payers or staff." |
| Mr Dear added that the £2bn budget shortfall could be tackled by looking at star names' salaries and cutting back on the use of consultants at the corporation. | Mr Dear added that the £2bn budget shortfall could be tackled by looking at star names' salaries and cutting back on the use of consultants at the corporation. |
| The government announced in January that the BBC's licence fee would rise to £151.50 by 2012. | The government announced in January that the BBC's licence fee would rise to £151.50 by 2012. |
| Mr Thompson said the settlement left a "gap" of about £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 about £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. |