ALL news presenters at BBC Scotland are at risk of losing their jobs amid “severe cuts” at the broadcaster, it has emerged.
The move could see several high-profile figures being made redundant from the broadcaster as part of a wider cost-saving drive by bosses at the BBC, according to the Daily Mail.
It comes after staff at Glasgow’s Pacific Quay were told last week that job cuts are on the way, and as many as 60 roles could be lost along with the axing of the BBC Scotland TV channel.
The corporation is to make “difficult decisions” as part of the first phase of its bid to save £500 million over the next three years, which is expected to see around 1800-2000 jobs lost.
In June, BBC director-general Matt Brittin announced that 550 of the planned roles to be cut would be taken from BBC News and TV and radio-related roles.
One source at the broadcaster told the Daily Mail that six compulsory redundancies could be required within BBC Scotland’s news department and if voluntary redundancies do not deliver the necessary savings, two of those posts could be presenter roles.
“It looks like six compulsory redundancies may be possible. These could include two presenters,” the source reportedly said.
“I believe the other posts are managers but past experience suggests the union will make compulsory redundancies all but impossible so people will get redeployed by hook or by crook if they want to.”
The source reportedly added that “many people” are taking voluntary redundancy, with the majority of them being at retirement age or already wanting to leave the BBC.
The insider added: “Anyone who can smell the coffee realises cuts are inevitable.”
The source went on to say: “Gary Robertson was in a very high-profile role which he left last year, hence the sense that he’s being targeted now.
“Gary is hugely liked so people are concerned for him as a friend.
“He’s also respected. Nobody wants to see him treated badly or kicked out. Having said that, presenting is a high-risk business.”
Brittin said the BBC plans to axe programmes and cut content spending by £80m, and added it would “review our broadcast TV channels and radio network portfolio”.
The BBC Scotland TV channel, which was launched in 2019, could be on the chopping block, according to The Times.
A BBC insider told The Times that “only a handful of the most high-profile presenters will feel that their jobs are safe”, while the mood inside Pacific Quay is “ugly” and there “was talk of strike action”.
A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC needs to save at least £500million over the next three years.
“BBC Scotland is making proportionate savings, which will result in changes to some of our services and impact a number of roles.
“We continue to consult and work closely with colleagues who are impacted as well as our recognised unions to mitigate compulsory redundancy.”
Nick McGowan-Lowe, the National Union of Journalists’ Scotland organiser, said: “The NUJ will be both fighting to save these jobs in Scotland, making sure workloads are manageable for remaining staff, and campaigning for immediate UK Government intervention.
“These are severe cuts at BBC Scotland, and they come at a time where there has never been a greater need for quality public service broadcasting.
“This constant cycle of cuts and cost-saving undermines the BBC’s core mission to inform, educate, and entertain – and it must end.”
