DTG Staff | 07.10.2011
The BBC Trust has announced it will be replacing the BBC HD channel with a HD version of BBC Two to broadcast alongside the existing BBC One HD channel.
The announcement is part of a set of proposals from BBC management for changes to the services the Corporation provides and the way it operates. The proposals will mean savings of around £670m a year by 2016/17, according to the Corporation but will also mean a loss of around 2,000 jobs across the BBC.
The proposals include a reduction in BBC One and Two entertainment programming and acquisitions; fewer Red Button transmissions to make the service consistent across all digital TV platforms and increased investment in network programming produced across Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
The BBC is sticking to plans announced earlier in the year to reduce BBC Online's budget by 25 per cent.
Mark Thompson, Director-General of the BBC, said: "This is a plan which puts quality and creativity first. It's a plan for a smaller BBC, but a BBC which uses its resources more effectively and collaboratively to deliver a full range of services to the public. The plan meets the savings target we agreed in last year's licence-fee settlement, but also identifies nearly £150m per year to invest in new high quality output and in the platforms and services of the future.
"But it is a plan which also means stretching efficiencies and significant job losses. It's my judgement that this is the last time the BBC will be able to make this level of savings without a substantial loss of services or quality or both."
The BBC Trust has launched a public consultation on these proposals which runs until 21 December 2011. The Trust will reach its conclusions early in 2012.
