Under budgetary pressure, the BBC is stepping up savings and going digital

Already subject to several savings plans in recent years and the aging of its audiences, the British audiovisual giant has seen the pressure increase recently with the Conservative government's decision to freeze the license fee for two years, creating a hole massive in its finances in times of high inflation.

The measures, announced in a press release, aim to save 500 million pounds per year (586 million euros) including 200 million to make up most of this shortfall.

The rest must be invested in digital "to build a BBC that puts digital first, something really new (...) a force for good for the UK and for the world", pleaded chief executive Tim Davie in a message to staff.

In particular, the creation of a single BBC News news channel is planned for the British and international audiences, which are currently separate, "while maintaining the possibility of broadcasting separate content depending on the event".

The group will stop broadcasting its children's channel CBBC (for 6-12 year olds) and its cultural channel BBC 4, whose content will therefore switch online.

Some foreign language services will also go online only, while longwave radio broadcasting will be phased out after consultations with maritime services.

In total, this will mean 1,000 fewer jobs, out of a current total of around 22,000 employees.

The group has set itself the goal of reaching 75% of its audiences via its iPlayer digital platform.

Investments will be made for content for this platform and that reserved for BBC Sounds sound content, whose programs will be "simplified" and the least efficient content removed.

The BBC is going through a difficult period due to upheavals in the consumption habits of its audiences and difficult relations with the Conservative government, further aggravated recently with the appointment of Nadine Dorries as Minister of Culture.

The latter, which has never hidden its hostility to public broadcasting, froze the license fee in January for two years (159 pounds, 185 euros) and questioned the long-term survival of this method of financing.

© 2022 AFP