BBC will axe than 1,000 jobs in cost-saving plan

The BBC will cut more than 1,000 jobs by merging some divisions, cutting management and simplifying areas such as marketing, human resources and IT. The world's biggest public broadcaster is in the midst of an overhaul to deliver more than £1.5 billion pounds (€2.1 billion) in savings a year by 2017 by cutting staff, closing some offices and sharing sports rights.

The BBC is funded by UK residents through an annual licence fee charged to households with televisions. The current fee, which has been frozen for seven years, is £145.50 for a colour TV licence. Income from the fee will be £150 million less in 2016-2017 as fewer people watch a household TV and instead rely on online streaming services and content over their mobile phones.

"A simpler, leaner, BBC is the right thing to do and it can also help us meet the financial challenges we face," BBC director-general Tony Hall said in an e-mail announcing the cuts.

Bloomberg