BBC warns of ‘unprecedented’ issues after £1bn drop in income
The BBC’s income has fallen by £1 billion in real terms compared with 2010, the corporation’s annual plan for 2025/26 has revealed.
The corporation said it is “no longer sustainable” to cut more staff to plug financial issues after axing 2,000 roles over the last five years.
The BBC has been increasingly cash-strapped in recent years after two years when the licence fee was frozen and inflation rising.
Challenge
The annual report said: “Despite strong growth from BBC Commercial, the BBC faces an unprecedented content funding challenge, as co-production partnerships with global streamers and media companies have reduced across the sector.
“Without intervention, it will be difficult to maintain the current ambition and volume of UK content.”
It also said it will “continue our ambitious programme of transformation to ensure the BBC is in the best shape to meet the challenges of a fast-changing media environment”, after having “an smaller, leaner workforce following an aggressive savings programme”.
Planned changes include putting out the investigative series Panorama on the morning of its evening broadcast, and having live broadcasts of current affairs programme Question Time on iPlayer.
Children’s news show Newsround, which is staying on CBBC and iPlayer, will be made available on YouTube for the first time.
The BBC is also exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI), while being wary of the technology’s “many risks”.
Controversies
BBC chairman Samir Shah said: “The BBC’s role has never been more important, both here in the UK and around the world, to deliver trusted, impartial news in a world of disinformation; develop and promote the most compelling homegrown content; and be the place where people come together for unforgettable shared moments.
“The BBC board fully endorses this plan, as we plot the long-term future of this marvellous organisation and deliver for audiences for generations to come.”
The corporation promised to publish the findings of an independent review of its workplace culture after several controversies involving high-profile presenters and TV shows.
BBC director-general Tim Davie said: “We are focused on our mission to deliver value for all, through our journalism, our storytelling and our unique ability to bring people together.
“The UK’s creative industry continues to change rapidly, as does the world around us. This plan sets out how the BBC continues to evolve for audiences, both on and off air, but also how we will support and invest in the wider industry.”
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Tory party stabbed them in back good and proper.
But now more than ever we need the political department to get cleaned out and re built, they are woeful, even in Wales.
They could focus on programming that the private sector would never produce and leave the Saturday night populist trash to the commercial channels.
Agree
They are being defunded because they have spread themselves far and wide and no longer really know what they stand for and should be concentrating on.
Cut the crazy salaries for mere presenters. and djs
The BBC should be finding and developing new talent, not paying market rates for top talent. That doesn’t mean top talent can’t work for the BBC but it should be seen as voluntary work that pays by helping them to access more lucrative private work like advertising salt and vinegar crisps.
After a lifetime of it being my go-to channel, I started to notice the BBC was monocultural in the early 2010s, and once you see it, you can’t un-see it. Within a few years the problem had metastasised and, come Covid, I couldn’t stomach it any more. I finally stopped watching the BBC in March 2020 and I’ve never regretted it. I will stop paying the licence fee the moment it becomes truly optional.
Are we the only people in the world that are forced to pay for state propaganda?
You are not forced.
Which bit do you considered state propaganda? The politics is skewed rotten but can be brought back on track.
You could empty a paintball gun into a BBC news room and you wouldn’t hit a single person who voted for Brexit, disagrees with Net Zero, or thinks immigration might be too high – yet these are mainstream views held by a large proportion of licence payers; probably most of them.
Not sure yo were paying attention.
Again.
Haha! Say what you like about North Korea but at least the propaganda’s free!
It does so easily slide back into its orignal benign imperialist propaganda role. But ITV is as bad with fantasy guff like Downton Abbey.
All MSM is essentially conformist establishment junk. Dissent endangers funding whether it comes from the taxpayer, rich owners/backers, or advertisers.