BBC inflicts MORE repeats on viewers as 1,800 jobs go and programme-making is slashed by 10 per cent

13 April 2012

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Financial cutbacks mean 10 per cent fewer programmes will be made and BBC Television Centre will be sold off by 2012.

Unions fear BBC staff could stage wildcat strikes when they are officially told about the cuts today.

The tension was heightened after union officials claimed letters asking for volunteers for redundancy had already been printed.

Sources said 3,000 letters dated this Friday had been prepared.

Furious union chiefs said this proved the BBC had no intention to enter into meaningful negotiations about the job losses.

As well as possible unofficial walkouts, unions are threatening waves of strikes in the run-up to Christmas, which could see programmes such as Newsnight and the Today programme taken off the air.

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The cuts were agreed at a crunch meeting yesterday between director-general Mark Thompson, who drew up the plans, and the BBC Trust, the corporation's governing body.

In total, 2,500 posts will be closed but 700 staff will be redeployed, leaving 1,800 redundant.

Chairman Sir Michael Lyons said the BBC Trust totally supported the plans, which also include selling off Television Centre in West London for up to £300million.

The BBC has been forced into the cuts after receiving a lower than expected licence fee settlement, leaving it with a £2billion budget shortfall.

It said it was cutting 10 per cent of new programmes by 2012 to ensure that its 'programme core is of high quality and is distinctive'.

The move could save £100million but it will force the BBC to show more repeats.

The extra repeats are expected to be broadcast on BBC2 and the digital channels BBC3 and BBC4, but not BBC1.

BBC bosses have previously defended showing more repeats by claiming the public appreciate the 'second opportunity' to see a show.

Recent figures show in the year to March there had already been an increase in repeats to 25,532, up from from 25,272 during the previous year.

Last week, the corporation repeated 143 programmes on BBC 1 and BBC 2.

Most of the repeated shows were broadcast early in the morning and late at night.

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Workers on strike outside the BBC. Management seek to cut the workforce by 12 per cent (File picture)

Seventy-five of these were on BBC 2, with up to 14 programmes repeated in a day.

BBC1, meanwhile, showed an average of nine repeated shows a day. In contrast, the 'youth channel' BBC3 has more original pro-It spends almost £180,000 an hour on its programmes, double what BBC1 spends.

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But its viewing figures are only a tenth of BBC1's.

This has led to senior BBC broadcasters, including John Humphrys, calling for rarely-watched channels such as BBC3 and BBC4 to be axed.

Critics have also said the savings could be made by cutting the pay of presenters such as Jonathan Ross, who was given an £18million deal.

Instead, the BBC's news operation is facing drastic cuts, with 370 journalists being made redundant.

The loss of 600 jobs in the corporation's factual department - 50 per cent of its workforce - could also threaten programmes such as Timewatch, Arena and Storyville, although Horizon, Imagine and Natural World are thought to be safe.

Along with the sale of Television Centre, Trust members have also asked BBC management for a more detailed strategy for its property portfolio, suggesting further selloffs could be on the way.

In total, the measures mean the BBC will make efficiency gains of 3 per cent each year.

Sir Michael said the plans were 'definitely' in the best interests of the BBC and that the Trust had approved them 'unanimously'. He added: "All of us at the BBC have constantly to remind ourselves that the guaranteed and privileged fundingat our disposal is coming from people who have no choice but to pay it."

But Jeremy Dear, the general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, accused the BBC of failing to value its core services.

He said: "If the Trust really believe quality news and current affairs is at the heart of what the BBC does and viewers say such programmes are what they value most about the BBC, it makes no sense to sack hundreds of staff in these core services.

"It is an abdication of the Trust's responsibility to rubberstampplans which undermined quality and lead to the sacking of front-line staff."

Mr Dear was furious the BBC has apparently already prepared letters seeking volunteers for redundancy.

He said: "This is clearly a provocative act and a sign that the BBC has no intention of entering meaningful negotiations because they have already made up their mind."

It is thought the NUJ and the broadcasting union Bectu will not accept any compulsory redundancies. They will also demand a risk assessment to make sure staff left at the BBC after the cuts can cope with any extra workload.

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