BBC to cut 382 jobs, close two radio stations

WORLD  29 September 2022 - 23:00

The BBC has announced plans to cut 382 jobs across its World Service. Under the new plans, BBC Arabic radio and BBC Persian radio will also close.

The corporation said the plans would “accelerate its digital offering and increase impact with audiences around the globe,” Wales Online reported on September 29.

World Service English will continue to operate globally as 24-hour broadcast radio, with new scheduling, programmes and podcasts announced in due course.

The BBC said: “Today’s proposals entail a net total of around 382 post closures. The proposals will see seven more language services moving to digital only, modelling the success of others which are already offering purely digital services and performing well with audiences. This means that nearly half of all 41 language services will be digital only.

“The BBC World Service will continue to operate in all the languages and countries where it is currently present, including the new languages added during its expansion in 2016. No language services will close.”

The announcement added: “The World Service will continue to serve audiences during moments of jeopardy and will ensure audiences in countries such as Russia, Ukraine and Afghanistan have access to vital news services, using appropriate broadcast and distribution platforms.”

Philippa Childs, head of broadcasting union Bectu, said of the BBC World Service proposals: “Bectu is disappointed to see the proposed changes to services announced today by the BBC World Service.

“While we recognise the BBC must adapt to meet the challenges of a changing media landscape, once again it is workers who are hit by the Government’s poorly-judged political decisions – its freezing of the licence fee and the resulting funding challenges has necessitated these proposals.

Caliber.Az