London: The British public broadcaster BBC has announced one of its biggest cost-cutting measures in years, revealing plans to lay off around 2,000 employees, nearly 10% of its workforce. The move is aimed at reducing overall costs by about 10% over the next two years.
According to reports, the decision comes amid rising financial pressures, inflation, and declining income from licence fees and commercial operations. The organisation said it needs to save approximately £500 million (around $677 million) to ensure long-term financial stability.
The announcement was made during an internal staff meeting, where BBC interim Director-General Rhodri Talfan Davies informed employees about the restructuring plan. He acknowledged the decision was difficult but said it was necessary due to the rapidly changing media landscape and financial challenges.
Sources indicate that the job cuts will affect multiple departments across the organisation, including both licence-funded and commercial divisions. This is expected to be the BBC’s largest workforce reduction in about 15 years.
The broadcaster had previously signalled the need for significant budget cuts in the coming years, and this move is part of a broader restructuring strategy.
Experts note that increasing competition from digital platforms, shifting audience habits, and the rise of streaming services are creating new financial pressures for traditional public broadcasters.