Anger at BBC 'waste'

October 17, 2007

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THE BBC was today accused of wasting time and money on an `irrelevant' rebranding of news bulletins as it prepares to unveil thousands of job cuts.

Director general Mark Thompson was presenting cost-cutting plans to the BBC Trust today to plug a £2bn funding shortfall.

TV and radio news, factual programmes and websites are expected to be hardest hit and the famous Television Centre, in Shepherd's Bush, London, is likely to be sold.

Up to 12 per cent of the workforce is likely to be cut. Mr Thompson is expected to soften the blow by announcing up to 1,000 new jobs with the new northern HQ to open at mediacity:UK in Salford Quays in 2011.

But he could still face industrial action by journalists and technical staff before Christmas.

Details of the job cuts will be announced to staff tomorrow, but unions have made it clear they will not accept compulsory redundancies and will demand a risk assessment of staff left at the BBC to make sure they can cope with any extra workload.

A source warned strikes would be `inevitable' if these demands are not met.

Meanwhile, it emerged that managers have commissioned research to decide where the word `news' should appear in radio headlines.

Rather than saying `BBC Radio 4 News', announcers have been instructed to use the phrase `BBC News for Radio 4'.

Listeners have flooded the BBC website with angry protests in view of the pending job losses.

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tezza, tyldesley (17/10/2007 at 11:58)

I cannot understand why the local news now needs 2 people to read the news and someone to do the sport and then someone to do the weather what a waste of money.

Mark, South Manchester (17/10/2007 at 12:11)

BBC Radio Manchester must be one of the most "wasteful" and poor performing local radio stations in the country!
They sent a reporter on a massive freebie to cover the Ashes cricket tour (last winter) in Australia - a guy who is not even a cricket commentator! Why?
They also had a reporter out in L.A. to cover David Beckham's debut. They have a programme called "Retail Therapy" which has come from New York & London in the past etc.

The station is a disgrace. Nobody gets sacked, just moved around, despite it's continuing abysmal ratings. Roll on a new talk radio station for Manchester.

ace, manchester (17/10/2007 at 12:16)

TV and radio news, factual programmes and websites are expected to be hardest hit .Arnt these the depts that are supossed to be the parts that are moving north to salford? Something dosnt sound right if they are moving these depts north but then decide to cut jobs?????

Mr Angry, Bury (17/10/2007 at 12:38)

Tezza, Leave North west Tonight alone, I like the team on there.

The Bobelesque, In The Rye (17/10/2007 at 12:42)

Tezza: the BBC is run on the same lines as British Coal and British Steel and British Leyland - 4 men for every job.

Michael Rigby, Higher Wheelton lancs, England. (17/10/2007 at 12:47)

Using TWO anchors on News24 is a total waste of licence payers money.
Some of these newscasters think they are the news,pouting at the camera,and acting like celebrities.
Let's get back to hourly bulletins, instead of wasting money having the same information repeated ad infinitum all day long.

ace, manchester (17/10/2007 at 13:24)

Mark, South Manchester
We have a talk radio station in manchester now with James Stannage ex key 103...
So why do we need another one that will no doubt be a BBC station???

Jimc (17/10/2007 at 14:25)

Bod did you not say the other day you would pay double for your licence.

ace, manchester (17/10/2007 at 14:28)

All you have to do to watch waste is watch jeremy clarkson and his pals smash cars that they pay literally thousands for and massive holidays paid for by the BBC for entertainment (for who im not sure if its us or the crew) I know how much they waste because my pal used to hire the show cars ?beleive me it was a lot.Waste youve not seen waste like it .

The Bobelesque, In The Rye (17/10/2007 at 16:12)

Mr Angry: I am happy to pay. Where did I say I wasn't. I was merely explaining how they waste money.

Gloria (17/10/2007 at 16:40)

Dear BBC
save a mint and do the country a favour...
SACK JONATHAN ROSS and all his sycophantic hangers on

Gloria (17/10/2007 at 16:53)

Why do we need so many BBC radio stations? just for the vanity of broadcasters.
BBC 1 2 3 4 5 6 ????

SamV, Manchester (17/10/2007 at 18:25)

Ace, Top Gear is one programme that actually makes the license fee almost worthwhile.

The show is repeated lots on UKTV (with adverts) and exported round the world for other TV companies to buy. Then theres the DVD's and the magazine. Its a VERY successful franchise and probably generates revenue for the BBC.

ebble (17/10/2007 at 21:04)

The licence fee should be scrapped and the BBC should sell to willing customers only. If the BBC had to work to attract customers and money rather than being given £3 billion a year from a tax they might learn the value of money.

S P In exile, Tameside (18/10/2007 at 00:38)

The BBC think it has got the resources of the Bank of England they put reporters all over the world in the hope that a major story will break then when there is an event like the World Cup there is a news reporter for national news a reporter to cover the players who play locally then the MOTD reporters they all need housing in hotels.

I also counted the reporters who covered the Madeline McCann story in Portugal there were five, hotels, flights and no doubt a hire car all cost and we are the ones who pay.The only thing the BBC are good at is waste.

Colin W, Abroad (18/10/2007 at 06:36)

and still you'll fork out for a license fee hike... and moan about it but do nothing. Muppets

Colin W, Abroad (18/10/2007 at 06:36)

and still you'll fork out for a license fee hike... and moan about it but do nothing. Muppets

Chris, Irlam (18/10/2007 at 09:40)

Ban Top Gear? It's one of the few things worth watching on BBC. The BBC needs trimming - start by getting rid of the behind-the-scenes AGW/MMCC myth peddlers so endemic within the corporation!

ace, manchester (18/10/2007 at 11:00)

The government announced in January that the BBC's licence fee would rise to £151.50 by 2012.

And they keep scamming their licence fees.???If it goes up any higher im stop paying.

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