BBC Four and CBBC to go online as BBC announces cost-cutting measures

The BBC has announced that it is to move BBC Four and CBBC online in a cost-cutting measure.

In further attempts to save money and transform into a ‘digital first’ organisation, the pubcaster also said that it will merge its global and national news channels while around 1,000 staff will be cut from the BBC’s wage bill over the next few years.

These are the latest attempts from the BBC to make up for the loss of income that will come from the licence fee freeze and its subsequent abolishment.

The broadcaster said that these measures will represent £500 million of savings. £200 million ot that will contribute to the £285m annual funding gap by 2027/28, with the remaining funding gap to be covered the final three years of this charter period.

But while it is making cuts in some areas, the broadcaster will invest £300 million in digital-first initiatives, such as shifting money into new programmes for the iPlayer, shifting resources in local output towards digital, and investing £50 million per year in product development.

In a speech made to staff, director general Tim Davie said: “This is our moment to build a digital-first BBC. Something genuinely new, a Reithian organisation for the digital age, a positive force for the UK and the world. Independent, impartial, constantly innovating and serving all. A fresh, new, global digital media organisation which has never been seen before. 

“Driven by the desire to make life and society better for our licence fee payers and customers in every corner of the UK and beyond.  They want us to keep the BBC relevant and fight for something that in 2022 is more important than ever. To do that we need to evolve faster and embrace the huge shifts in the market around us.”