The BBC is preparing to cut up to 2,000 roles, marking its largest workforce reduction in 15 years as financial strain tightens across the organisation. The move is set to affect about 10 percent of its 21,500 employees.
The restructuring comes just weeks before a leadership transition next month, when Matt Brittin, a former Google executive, formally takes charge.
Staff were briefed during an all-hands meeting led by interim director general Rhodri Talfan Davies.
The cuts follow a £600 million savings plan outlined earlier this year under outgoing chief Tim Davie. He had warned that the BBC needed to trim around 10 percent from its £6 billion annual cost base over three years. Davie stepped down earlier this month after facing criticism linked to editorial decisions and political scrutiny.
Pressure on the BBC has been building from several directions. Licence fee income, once a stable backbone, is under strain. Although the annual fee rose to £180 in April, the number of paying households has dropped by 300,000 over the past year. Many viewers are turning to streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney, while others avoid the fee altogether.
Commercial income and grants continue to support the broadcaster, but not enough to offset the broader shift in viewing habits. Regulators have also raised concerns about the long-term future of traditional public service television, warning that it risks losing ground in an era dominated by on-demand content.
Inside the organisation, there is unease about the scale of the planned cuts. Union representatives said the reduction could weaken the BBC’s ability to deliver its public service role. Staff have already faced previous rounds of job losses, and morale is under pressure as uncertainty grows.
