The BBC is aiming to cut costs by 10% over the next 3 years, across its network and BBC Studios.
Outgoing Director General, Tim Davie, told staff that they would need to “adapt and innovate”, find savings and move money to “remain relevant for our audiences.”
In the staff memo, he didn’t reveal where the targeted 10% savings would come from.
“The BBC has already faced significant funding pressures in recent years, and additional cuts of this scale will inevitably damage its ability to perform its vital national function,” stated Philippa Childs, Head of Bectu.
“BBC staff will be deeply worried by this news, and Bectu will be engaging urgently with the BBC to understand the implications for our members and represent their interests in this process. This will also inevitably impact the wider creative industries ecosystem, given the BBC’s crucial anchor role.
“At a time of fake news and homogenised programming, we need a confident and sustainably-funded BBC more than ever. This only increases the importance of the upcoming Charter Renewal, which must put the BBC’s funding on a more secure, long-term pathway and prevent our national broadcaster from being run into the ground.”
READ MORE – Government launches public consultation for 2027 BBC Charter renewal
Davie said that the savings shouldn’t be mistaken for a “lack of appetite for us to make a case for the BBC to be invested in properly; we want more money.”
It’s the latest in a series of cost-cutting plans at the corporation. In 2022 it aimed for a £700m saving by 2028. So far it’s achieved around £564m of this.
“Over the last three years, we have delivered more than a half a billion pounds worth of savings, much of which we’ve been able to reinvest into our output across the BBC,” said a BBC spokesperson.
“In a rapidly-changing media market, we continue to face substantial financial pressures. As a result, we expect to make further savings over the next three years of around 10% of our costs. This is about the BBC becoming more productive and prioritising our offer to audiences to ensure we’re providing the best value for money, both now and in the future.”
Today’s news comes as a date has been set for Donald Trumps’s $10bn lawsuit against the BBC. It has been scheduled to go to trial in February 2027. It’s in relation to the way an episode of Panorama was edited.
READ MORE – BBC to file for dismissal of $5bn Donald Trump Panorama lawsuit
The BBC is expected to submit a motion to dismiss the case by March this year.
