gumshuu008
Active Member
10,000 BBC staff face axe
The Times
December 09, 2004
LONDON: Up to 10,000 BBC staff will be axed in the biggest shake-up in the history of Britain's public broadcaster.
Staff were shocked and unions threatened strike action after new director-general Mark Thompson outlined the overhaul yesterday.
Mr Thompson announced a target of an annual pound stg. 320million ($810 million) savings within three years -- double the figure promised by his predecessor Greg Dyke, who had already cut overheads by half.
The first redundancies will be 2500 staff working in human resources, finance, marketing, training, legal services and other non-program-making departments. A further 400 posts will go in the BBC's factual and learning department which makes educational series.
Many more redundancies are expected to be confirmed in March in the news, radio and music, nations and regions, new media and television departments.
Another 1800 staff face redundancy if they refuse to relocate from London to Manchester, where children's, sports, new media and Radio 5 Live operations will move.
And about 5000 staff are expected to leave as Mr Thompson promised to sell commercial activities not linked to the BBC's core public services.
Mr Thompson took the reins after Mr Dyke resigned mid-year in the fallout from the suicide of British weapons expert David Kelly.
In an address broadcast to the BBC's 27,000 staff yesterday, he said the past four years had been a period "in which we haven't stressed productivity and efficiency very much". He said money must be saved to invest in programs and digital services.
Experts had concluded that television programs should be made for 15per cent less per hour. Mr Thompson argued this did not mean a loss of quality because new technology would make program-making a great deal more efficient.
BBC radio, music and news must make 15per cent efficiency savings over three years. But Mr Thompson said the savings would be returned to programming, with more slots for investigative news program Panorama and enhanced news coverage of the Middle East.
There will be a greater focus on quality drama and comedy at the expense of "reality" programs and leisure series such as Changing Rooms.
Mr Thompson must await the verdict of Britain's Culture Secretary and the governors of the BBC, who declined to approve his plan immediately and will make a decision next year.
A statement from the National Union of Journalists said: "We believe a policy that requires such colossal job cuts, reductions in program commitments and the sale and privatisation of core sections of the BBC risks destroying its ability to continue as Britain's leading public service broadcaster."
I can't believe that TG would not be affected with such drastic changes and budgetary cuts, #@*!%^ing Governments! They tax you to the hilt, provide you with sub-standard services and then f*#k you in the ass at the same time.(excuse my venting of anger) Now don't get me wrong, I don't like fat, lazy ass public servants either who don't give a shiiite about service, hell I pay my taxes I expect a certain level of service, so I can understand certain cuts but shiite!!!! that much?!
And I am not a Government hater, and I must admit, I must commend our current Government in OZ at the way they have pulled this country out of the economic mess we were in. We have a strong economy, one of the strongest I must add, and yes they don't always get it right but they have gotten most of it right!
Can I ask does the show actually rate well in the UK? This might be it's saving grace!
G 8)
The Times
December 09, 2004
LONDON: Up to 10,000 BBC staff will be axed in the biggest shake-up in the history of Britain's public broadcaster.
Staff were shocked and unions threatened strike action after new director-general Mark Thompson outlined the overhaul yesterday.
Mr Thompson announced a target of an annual pound stg. 320million ($810 million) savings within three years -- double the figure promised by his predecessor Greg Dyke, who had already cut overheads by half.
The first redundancies will be 2500 staff working in human resources, finance, marketing, training, legal services and other non-program-making departments. A further 400 posts will go in the BBC's factual and learning department which makes educational series.
Many more redundancies are expected to be confirmed in March in the news, radio and music, nations and regions, new media and television departments.
Another 1800 staff face redundancy if they refuse to relocate from London to Manchester, where children's, sports, new media and Radio 5 Live operations will move.
And about 5000 staff are expected to leave as Mr Thompson promised to sell commercial activities not linked to the BBC's core public services.
Mr Thompson took the reins after Mr Dyke resigned mid-year in the fallout from the suicide of British weapons expert David Kelly.
In an address broadcast to the BBC's 27,000 staff yesterday, he said the past four years had been a period "in which we haven't stressed productivity and efficiency very much". He said money must be saved to invest in programs and digital services.
Experts had concluded that television programs should be made for 15per cent less per hour. Mr Thompson argued this did not mean a loss of quality because new technology would make program-making a great deal more efficient.
BBC radio, music and news must make 15per cent efficiency savings over three years. But Mr Thompson said the savings would be returned to programming, with more slots for investigative news program Panorama and enhanced news coverage of the Middle East.
There will be a greater focus on quality drama and comedy at the expense of "reality" programs and leisure series such as Changing Rooms.
Mr Thompson must await the verdict of Britain's Culture Secretary and the governors of the BBC, who declined to approve his plan immediately and will make a decision next year.
A statement from the National Union of Journalists said: "We believe a policy that requires such colossal job cuts, reductions in program commitments and the sale and privatisation of core sections of the BBC risks destroying its ability to continue as Britain's leading public service broadcaster."
I can't believe that TG would not be affected with such drastic changes and budgetary cuts, #@*!%^ing Governments! They tax you to the hilt, provide you with sub-standard services and then f*#k you in the ass at the same time.(excuse my venting of anger) Now don't get me wrong, I don't like fat, lazy ass public servants either who don't give a shiiite about service, hell I pay my taxes I expect a certain level of service, so I can understand certain cuts but shiite!!!! that much?!
And I am not a Government hater, and I must admit, I must commend our current Government in OZ at the way they have pulled this country out of the economic mess we were in. We have a strong economy, one of the strongest I must add, and yes they don't always get it right but they have gotten most of it right!
Can I ask does the show actually rate well in the UK? This might be it's saving grace!
G 8)
).
