Advanced Television

BBC Studios to axe 300 staff

October 13, 2016

The BBC is set to cut some 300 of its programme-making team as its production arm prepares to be spun off in a separate unit and the prospect of losing shows to the commercial sector.

Cuts are reported to be across the board, covering drama, comedy, entertainment and factual and represents a reduction of over 10 per cent of the 2,000 current staff.

The move follows the BBC’s plan to spin off the majority of its in-house programme-makers into a new commercial subsidiary called BBC Studios. In addition some of its shows such as Songs of Praise and Holby are being put to tender to the independent sector, with – under the terms of the government’s draft new charter for the BBC – the rest to follow over the next decade. In return BBC Studios will be allowed to become commercial next year and make shows for other broadcasters.

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