The BBC is preparing to lay off about 10% of its staff: timeline announced
16 April 11:18
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has announced plans to cut between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs over the next two years. This means that approximately 10% of the company’s total workforce could be affected by the restructuring, according to AFP, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
Rodri Talfan Davi, the media holding’s CEO, told AFP that the corporation is under “significant financial pressure.” According to him, the BBC needs to reduce operating costs by approximately £500 million (€575 million), with the bulk of the planned savings to be realized in 2027–2028.
Management cites the general crisis in the media industry—which is intensifying due to the active adoption of artificial intelligence technologies and changes in audience content consumption habits—as the main reason for the upcoming cuts. In March, the BBC already noted that revenue from the TV license fee paid by UK residents has fallen by 24% since 2017.
The BBC is under pressure from competitors
Additional pressure on the corporation comes from growing competition from global streaming platforms and online media, which offer subscription-based content and are increasingly vying for the attention of viewers and listeners. Against this backdrop, the BBC is forced to review its structure, accelerate its digital transformation, and reallocate resources toward online initiatives and new formats.
Previously, the company’s management had already announced its intention to phase out some traditional television and radio channels in the long term, focusing on the development of digital services, including news apps and the iPlayer streaming platform, which also affects the corporation’s personnel policy.
