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The BBC has announced plans to cut between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs—nearly 10% of its workforce—to address "significant financial pressures." The broadcaster aims to achieve £500 million in savings over the next two years. Interim Director General Rhodri Talfan Davies stated that while the news is "really difficult" for staff, the corporation will work to implement these changes without compromising critical radio, television, and online services.
He said the corporation would give more details later this year about how its services would be affected.
The BBC currently has about 21,500 full time equivalent employees.
In an email to staff on Wednesday, Talfan Davies said: "As you know, the BBC is facing significant financial pressures, which we need to respond to with pace.
"Put simply, the gap between our costs and our income is growing. This is being driven by a number of factors: production inflation remains very high; our licence fee and commercial income is under pressure; and the global economy remains turbulent."
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the BBC, "like every institution", has to make "difficult decisions".
"That is something that I know the leadership of the BBC take very seriously, including exploring commercial options and other revenue raisers that can help to sustain the BBC's finances," she said shortly before the announcement.
The news comes in advance of the arrival of a new director general, former Google executive Matt Brittin, who will officially succeed the recently departed Tim Davie on 18 May.
