Type
Internal restructuring
Country
United Kingdom
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Sector
Information / Communication
Publishing Of Information; Production And Programming Of Audiovisual
Programming And Broadcasting Activities
60 - Programming and broadcasting activities

2,050 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
21 March 2005
Employment effect (start)
Foreseen end date

Description

The BBC director general, Mark Thompson, has been accused of 'ripping the heart out of BBC programme making', as broadcasting unions reacted with fury to his announcement of a further 2,050 job cuts on 21 March 2005. The cuts announced by Mr Thompson will fall heaviest on the BBC nations and regions, where 735 jobs are to be lost, and BBC News, which is earmarked to lose 420 journalistic and administrative posts. The job losses, which amount to a 13% reduction in staffing levels across production and broadcasting departments such as news, sport and drama, were described as 'absolutely murderous' by one union official.

It follows 1,730 job losses announced across the BBC's professional services divisions earlier in march.

Union leaders have already warned they will ballot staff for industrial action if there are compulsory redundancies.


Sources

  • 22 March 2005: The Guardian
  • 21 March 2005: BBC News

Citation

Eurofound (2005), BBC, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 61286, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/61286.