from floofloof@lemmy.ca to world@lemmy.world on 02 May 06:52
https://lemmy.ca/post/64229500
cross-posted from: beehaw.org/post/26110589
The BBC’s news operation is to cut costs by a steeper-than-expected 15%, with staff told to expect heavy redundancies.
The division, home to about a quarter of all BBC staff, is being saddled with one of the highest cost-cutting targets as the corporation attempts to cut as many as 2,000 jobs in the biggest downsizing of the public service broadcaster in 15 years.
Last month, staff were informed that, on average across the BBC, about 10% of the corporation’s 21,500 employees would be affected as part of a £600m cost-cutting plan, but it was not clear at the time that news operations would see even deeper cuts.
Staff at divisions across the BBC are being informed of the level of cuts, with details to be announced in June, and those affected to be told in September.
Great, so, Sword of Damocles for four months. I’ve played this game, and it isn’t fun.
#world
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The BBC has had below inflation (or no) uplifts in the license fee for years which means it’s been effectively cut.
If you look at wikipedia there is a nice graph of the license fee corrected for inflation, based around 2015 prices. The recent license fee in 2019 was equivalent to about £154, but it used to be worth £192. That’s a 20% cut, and on top of that we’ve had 6 more years of below inflation rises, and of course some big spikes in inflation.
Using the Bank of England inflation calculator ; the license fee should be worth £201 now in 2026 if it’d just stayed equivalent to £154 in 2019, but the actual license fee is £180 so another 10% cut on top of the existing 20% cut from it’s peak. If the license fee was still at it’s peak value of equivalent to £192 in 2009 (in 2019 money), then it should be £250 now.
So long story short, the current license fee of £180 is a 28% cut in value in 17 years. No wonder the BBC is in trouble, is constantly cutting costs and shrinking. It’s a managed decline by successive UK governments who won’t deal with funding the BBC properly.
Personally, I’d abolish the license fee and pay for the BBC out of general taxation. I personally favour a household free-media precept, a bit like the Fire precept we get in council tax; but I get that council tax is also a mess. Regardless, every household should be paying in some way even if they “don’t use the BBC”, because it’s about so much more than about whether someone owns and watches live TV. The BBC is one of the ways we preserve our culture and identity in the face of the massive global media and tech conglomerates like Netflix, Amazon etc. And the license fee is used to fund more than just TV (Radio, Online, local and national news services).
Problem is the tv license is deeply unpopular and increasing it is a sure fire way to get yourself voted out at next election
And if it was charged via general taxation, presumably, the cost per person would actually be lower.
I don’t currently have a TV license (we only watch streaming) but I’d be happy with that. As you say, there are huge cultural and social benefits to the BBC. We already pay taxes to make museums free for everyone, why not the Beeb too?
Of course I hate to see media be gutted like this
But let’s be honest, the BBC also completely fucking sucks. From holding off reporting to ‘not upset Number 10’ to whitewashing Israel’s Genocide through their Jerusalem office, to their blatant transphobia, the BBC is morally bankrupt. They’re trying to appease the right and the far-right when no appeasement will ever satisfy the side that has long ago decided the BBC should burn.