The BBC, which just revealed Gary Lineker earned £1.3 million, will eliminate 70 posts as part of the merging of BBC News and BBC World News in order to save money.
After Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries stated that the licence price will be frozen for the next two years, it intends to create a single 24-hour TV channel as part of the measures it claims it needs to do to save money.
The change follows the corporation’s announcement that BBC Four, Radio 4 Extra, and CBBC would no longer be available as linear channels.
In the upcoming years, they are anticipated to go online to the iPlayer as part of the broadcaster’s plans to become “digital first.”
However, it comes in response to complaints that the public was tired of paying a high licence fee for them after the enormous incomes of the channel’s greatest performers were revealed.
The BBC announced today that the anticipated launch date for its newly combined channel, which will be known as BBC News, is April 2023.
Our goal is to build the best live and breaking video news service in the world across our websites, apps, iPlayer, and new TV news channel, according to BBC News’ digital director Naja Nielsen.
“News viewers are consuming it in different ways.” Tens of millions of people follow live pages as major news and events are unfolding, which has resulted in a significant increase in public interest in our live coverage in recent years.
The BBC is in a unique position to provide audiences with the finest analysis and explanation as these stories develop since it is the most dependable news source in the world and has a wide range of knowledge.
In order to offer the best journalism to people at home and abroad, “we are investing in new capability to cover breaking news stories, and our news channel and digital staff will work hand in hand.”
The new station will broadcast during the day from London and at night from Singapore and Washington, DC.
The merger will result in the job loss of about 70 BBC employees from all regions of the UK. There will be a 20 employment increase in Washington.
The BBC claimed that as a result of the reforms, the organization will be more efficient and “drive the maximum value from the licence fee and offer more for audiences.”
According to the statement, the channel will cater to people in the UK and beyond with flagship shows centred on prominent journalists.
A live breaking news team will give a domestic-only stream for major news events, and UK viewers will receive specialized information at specific times of the day, the broadcaster stated.
The channel’s programming will be updated over time, and there are plans to transmit at least two additional shows, including one from Washington, in 2023.
The broadcaster announced that it will also invest in “visualizing programs” of well-known radio programs, beginning with Nicky Campbell’s show on BBC Radio 5 Live, which will be aired on BBC Two early on weekdays.
According to the BBC, personnel and labor groups will continue to be consulted before the plans are finalized.
Over the previous ten years, the broadcaster has already gone through many rounds of layoffs and budget cuts as a result of licence fee increases that lagged behind inflation.
Tim Davie, who succeeded Lord Tony Hall as director-general in September 2020, has presided over a restructuring of the corporation, with 1,200 employees leaving in the previous 18 months.
The news comes after Ms. Dorries said in January that the licence fee will remain at £159 for the following two years, forcing the BBC to find further £285 million in savings.
After Ms. Dorries stated that a survey over future BBC funding will shortly commence, the corporation is uncertain about the future of the licence fee.
Before the existing agreement ends in 2027, she said, she wants to develop a new funding model because the current one is “totally out of date.”