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BBC staff await job announcement BBC chief to outline future plans
(about 2 hours later)
BBC staff are waiting to hear how many will be made redundant under plans to reduce the size of the corporation. BBC director general Mark Thompson will shortly unveil plans to reduce the size of the corporation that will impact both on programming and jobs.
On Wednesday, director general Mark Thompson's plans for its future were approved by its governing body. Plans are said to include a 10% cut in the number of programmes commissioned, which will lead to more repeats.
The BBC trust's chairman has admitted that if the plan does not work the whole future of the corporation could be under question. BBC staff are waiting to hear how many will be made redundant, with up to 2,500 jobs reportedly at risk.
Up to 2,800 jobs are reportedly at risk as Mr Thompson attempts to deal with a £2bn budget shortfall. The BBC needs to make up a £2bn budget shortfall, caused by a smaller licence fee settlement from the government.
The shortfall was caused by a smaller licence fee settlement from the government. The cuts - said to be centred on BBC News and factual TV, which makes programmes such as Planet Earth and Top Gear - will be imposed over the next six years.
BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons said the plans for the next six years could be make or break for the corporation. No specific programmes have been targeted, however.
He said: "All of this - the whole exercise - I see as focussed on ensuring that the BBC continues to be valued by the people who pay for it. Make or break
"That's our ambition, that's our shared ambition. If it doesn't live up to that then its future is in question, for sure." On Wednesday, Mr Thompson's plans for the BBC's future were approved by its governing body.
'Devastating cuts' ROAD TO THE BBC SHAKE-UP January - Government raises licence fee by 3%, less than the hoped for settlementMarch - Mark Thompson says BBC faces 'tough choices ahead' due to settlementMay - New trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons (pictured) says a debate about how the licence fee is used should be openedAugust - Sir Michael says the BBC may 'do less' to meet a budget shortfallOctober - Mark Thompson's strategy for the BBC's future is approved
BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons said the plans could be make or break for the corporation.
"All of this - the whole exercise - I see as focussed on ensuring that the BBC continues to be valued by the people who pay for it," he said.
The trust also backed "in principle" the sale of Television Centre, the corporation's studio and office complex in Shepherd's Bush, west London.The trust also backed "in principle" the sale of Television Centre, the corporation's studio and office complex in Shepherd's Bush, west London.
But it refused to confirm reports that it had approved proposals to place advertisements on the international pages of the BBC News website.But it refused to confirm reports that it had approved proposals to place advertisements on the international pages of the BBC News website.
Some BBC staff and union activists gathered outside Broadcasting House in central London ahead of the trust's meeting to express their concern about potential job losses. BBC correspondent Nick Higham said some 2,500 jobs would go, but that around 700 new jobs would be created, meaning 1,800 redundancies in all.
The BBC is expected to move towards an integrated newsroom "The axe will fall most heavily on the London newsroom and on the departments making factual programmes and documentaries," he said.
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. Efficiency savings
BBC correspondent Nick Higham said he understood about 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.
Steve Hewlett, a media columnist for The Guardian said the changing nature of broadcasting meant the BBC had to shrink.
"The BBC has been increasing the amount of content it produces to meet the demands of the multichannel age.
"Well, look forward - not far - to the on-demand age; why do you need so many channels? And if you don't need so many channels, do you need as much content?"
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.
'Call for strikes' The BBC is expected to move towards an integrated newsroomHigh-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.
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. Broadcasting unions are opposed to the cuts, which could spark a series of strikes in the run-up to Christmas.
ROAD TO THE BBC SHAKE-UP January - Government raises licence fee by 3%, less than the hoped for settlementMarch - Mark Thompson says BBC faces 'tough choices ahead' due to settlementMay - New trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons (pictured) says a debate about how the licence fee is used should be openedAugust - Sir Michael says the BBC may 'do less' to meet a budget shortfallOctober - Mark Thompson's strategy for the BBC's future is approved
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.
NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said cuts would lead to "compulsory redundancies and increased workloads".
He said: "It is inevitable anger will grow and calls for strike action get louder."
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 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.