It’s official – the BBC Trust this afternoon approved director-general Mark Thompson’s six-year plan purportedly involving the loss of around 2,800 jobs, the creation of around 1,000 more and the sell-off of its famous Television Centre HQ. Some 520 jobs are going in BBC News thanks to the convergence of the TV, radio and web newsrooms, according to reports emerging from a preview given to 150 execs last night (via Telegraph.co.uk). Says Guardian: “Some of the new jobs will be in on-demand journalism and website video posts in BBC News.” Jobs in the Scotland, factual and children’s divisions are also being cut. Ten percent fewer 10 programmes will be commissioned. Mark Thompson reveals details to staff on Thursday.
The trust was also considering – and, reports say, was expected to green-light – the proposal to place advertising on BBC.com, a website to be operated by the BBC Worldwide overseas commercial arm. BBC Worldwide has guaranteed an unknown percentage of revenue from BBC.com ads will go back to the public service broadcaster, according to The Guardian. The BBC had been tasked with finding more money from commercial sources when, in its charter renewal, it was given a lower license fee than hoped for – it now has to plug a £2 billion shortfall and make three percent annual efficiency savings. Both these moves are part of that.