BBC admits half of planned budget cuts will affect content
The BBC, which has hitherto planned to meet savings targets by slashing operating costs, has admitted that half of the cutbacks will impact upon programming.
Delivering Quality First, a cost cutting programme, had been put in place by the beeb’s director general Mark Thompson as a freeze on the license fee comes into effect.
Pat Younge BBC Vision’s chief creative officer, said: “Mark Thompson said from the outset we're looking to take out 16% and about 8% of that from scope, meaning content and the rest coming out of how we do things and how we organise ourselves.”
Uncertainty still surrounds the programme with no clear idea of where the axe will fall prior to conclusion of a brainstorming exercise amongst staff – a process which Younge said was “hurting” the corporation.
Younge made the remarks whilst speaking at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival.