BBC to cut 2,000 jobs as corporation aims to reduce costs by 10% over three years

The BBC is to cut 2,000 jobs as it tries to reduce costs by 10% over three years, sources have said.

Staff were told of plans to cut roles in a meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

The cuts mark the biggest round of BBC redundancies in almost 15 years as the corporation seeks to save millions amid “substantial financial pressures”.

It comes as former Google boss Matt Brittin prepares to take over as director-general from Tim Davie next month.

The BBC, predominantly funded through the annual licence fee, has faced pressure over value for money as it faces competition from streaming giants like Netflix and Disney+.

Earlier this month, the licence fee rose to £180 per year.

The National Union of Journalists has urged the broadcaster to meaningfully engage with workers and trade unions and reconsider its proposals.

Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said: “Plans for more brutal job cuts are wrong, damaging and will cause uncertainty and distress for workers at the BBC.

“Previous rounds of cuts have led to reduced programming, loss of experience, unmanageable workloads, fewer opportunities and have significantly hit staff morale. These cuts severely undermine the BBC’s ability to fulfil its purposes: providing quality journalism and programming that informs, educates, and entertains.

“Plans for further cuts follow years of real-terms budget reductions and relentless cost-saving measures which have impacted core parts of the corporation. This can’t go on. The BBC cannot provide quality journalism without the talented and experienced workers who make it possible.”