Following yesterday’s announcement that the BBC is to close BBC Three and BBC Scotland as linear channels, along with the Radio 4 Extra station, leading figures from across the industry have responded.
The statement, which followed several weeks of speculation throughout the UK’s media and entertainment sector, said “tough decisions” were needed due to the “sustained financial pressures” faced by the corporation, with savings of £500 million required by 2028.
Robert Ambrose, co-CEO of Caretta Research, tells TVBEurope that cost savings are inevitable in the current economic climate, “partly to save money, and (particularly in this case) to signal to licence fee payers and politicians that the corporation is tightening its purse strings”.
Ambrose added: “Equally, it’s always disappointing when cuts are delivered by slashing entire services and channels, and I really hope to see a clear strategy emerging from the new DG on how he’s going to cut the vast layers of management and overhead—and make more use of enabling technology—so more budget goes on screen rather than into the legendary bureaucracy. Let’s not forget too that the BBC still has the highest budget of any single public broadcaster in the world.
“The BBC has also been guilty of expansionism in recent years, launching new services, often to the dismay of commercial competitors. I’d much sooner see the broadcaster focusing on doing fewer things better, rather than spreading too thin. Other recent cuts in sports and local and regional journalism are much more regrettable in my view, as they cut to the very heart of what public service media is, and why it deserves public funding.”
Head of Bectu, Philippa Childs warned the cuts could cause “irreparable damage to the BBC and will do yet more harm to the morale of its employees. The continued drip feed of planned cuts to output and job cuts is putting increasing pressure on an already bruised workforce at the BBC”.
“The BBC is a vital public service broadcaster that is more crucial than ever to UK PLC, to the economic success of our creative industries, and to viewers and listeners. Further cuts will be felt across the sector as programming, talent development, jobs and British-based projects are affected. That is why Charter Renewal must put the BBC’s funding on a secure, long-term footing and the sooner the discussions about the future funding model are concluded the better.”
Head of business development at Enders Analysis, Thomas Thomson, commented, “This slimming down takes place in a challenging audience environment for the BBC. The Government’s Charter Review process is ongoing and it is now or never for a sustainable funding model.”
