BBC set to announce budget cuts

Gary L · 06-10-2011, 07:49

It'll probably go something like "we wil stop spending money as if it was water obtained from the ocean. we might even axe Eastenders to save a few quid because we think it's that which is making Britain depressed"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15165926

**Chris** · 06-10-2011, 08:23

The BBC's average weekly reach is so high that it's unlikely that many of the people who claim never to watch any of their channels, really, truly never watch any of their channels.

In any case, we already have forewarning of some of the budget cutting as it has been drip-fed into the media over the last few weeks. The axing of Doctor Who Confidential has the Who-nutters up in arms as you would expect. Tomorrow the BBC will also reduce the number of red button streams it broadcasts via satellite, allowing to drop from 7 transponders to 6. That should save a pretty penny as well.

Once relocation costs are paid down, the closure of Television Centre and the basing of certain departments in Manchester instead of overcrowded, overpriced London should also bring some savings.

Welshchris · 06-10-2011, 08:33

Chris, i did read somewhere a few days ago that the BBC maybe thinking twice of moving some of the studios from TV center.

I cant remember where i read it though.

**Chris** · 06-10-2011, 08:34

Would be good to find a link for that as it would have major implications for their future plans. The fact is, a lot of the move has already happened. Children's completed the move last month.

06-10-2011, 08:35

Hope the BBC does not cut back too much,for all its faults i think it still provides very good services news 24 gets a regular airing with me,as do many other news programmes.

We all know competitors want to see it shrink so you buy from them,James Murdoch was banging on about cutting the BBC down years ago,but for me for the cost it provides a stirling service still.

Besides which if it shrunk too much channels such as Dave,and alibi,watch and uk gold would have very liitle to show.

denphone · 06-10-2011, 08:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard1960

Hope the BBC does not cut back too much,for all its faults i think i still provide very good services news 24 gets a regular airing with me,as do many other news programmes.

We all know competitors want to see it shrink so you buy from them,James Murdoch was banging on about cutting the BBC down years ago,but fr me for the cost it provides a stirling service still.

Besides which if it shrunk too much channels such as Dave,and alibi,watch and uk gold would have very liitle to show.

l will second that.

**Chris** · 06-10-2011, 08:37

The BBC's role as a benchmark in broadcast quality in the UK is often understated.

Chrysalis · 06-10-2011, 09:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

It'll probably go something like "we wil stop spending money as if it was water obtained from the ocean. we might even axe Eastenders to save a few quid because we think it's that which is making Britain depressed"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15165926

my question is given the bbc is supposed to be balanced, why are they protecting childrens programmes and specifically targeting sports heavily? as well as investing in silly celeb programmes.

Sirius · 06-10-2011, 11:03

So have they cut any of the upper management wage bills, Have they cut any of the massive payments to actors and presenters, For instance i don't have a link but i am sure i read that Jeremy the mouth Clarkson is paid nearly half a million for being an arse on top gear.

I am glad to see the BBC have finally realised they cannot keep spending more and more money then going cap in hand to the Government saying please can we have some more, Privately funded companies cannot go running to the Government if they spend to much so why should the BBC think they have a god given right to spend public money with no come back. ?

Chrysalis · 06-10-2011, 11:08

I think their payments to celebs hasnt been cut much, they recently signed up a new sat night celeb show with a 10s of millions budget to compete with itv.

Russ · 06-10-2011, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius

, For instance i don't have a link but i am sure i read that Jeremy the mouth Clarkson is paid nearly half a million for being an arse on top gear.

Could be true however I'm sure they'd rather he be an arse on the Beeb than Sky etc

**Chris** · 06-10-2011, 11:20

The OP link has been updated with details of the cuts now.

BBC HD is to go. It will be replaced with BBC2 HD.
BBC2 is to lose its entire budget for daytime TV and will show repeats of quality evening shows instead plus more reliance on BBC News output like Hardtalk.
BBC3 will focus more closely on pioneering new material to then feed in to BBC2.
BBC4 will do likewise for BBC1.
BBC3 is to be added to the list of departments moving to Salford - it will transfer in 2016.
Radio1xtra will lose its own news bulletins. Except for during breakfast it will now share with R1.
R3 likewise will now share bulletins from R4.
Sports budget drops by 15%
BBC1 budget drops by 3% but a greater proportion of what's left will go to comedy and drama.
By 2017, staff levels to drop by 2,000.

Plenty more to see at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15165926

denphone · 06-10-2011, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

The OP link has been updated with details of the cuts now.

BBC HD is to go. It will be replaced with BBC2 HD.
BBC2 is to lose its entire budget for daytime TV and will show repeats of quality evening shows instead plus more reliance on BBC News output like Hardtalk.
BBC3 will focus more closely on pioneering new material to then feed in to BBC2.
BBC4 will do likewise for BBC1.
BBC3 is to be added to the list of departments moving to Salford - it will transfer in 2016.
Radio1xtra will lose its own news bulletins. Except for during breakfast it will now share with R1.
R3 likewise will now share bulletins from R4.
Sports budget drops by 15%
BBC1 budget drops by 3% but a greater proportion of what's left will go to comedy and drama.
By 2017, staff levels to drop by 2,000.

Plenty more to see at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15165926

There is no doubts that cuts had to come as everybody has to tighten their belts and the BBC is no different but my worry is what happens in 2017 as l do not think the BBC could take any more cuts then without it affecting some of its quality output but what do you think Chris.

**Chris** · 06-10-2011, 11:34

Mark Thompson has said the same - that any more cuts will radically and perhaps permanently change the way the BBC looks and operates. At the moment they're trying to maintain the same level of output by rearranging and re-using resources.

Personally I think there are some things that could still go. Radio1xtra is an indulgence IMO, as is the Asian network. BBC3 and BBC4 have simply carved up between them what used to be the remit for BBC2 and I'm not convinced that all three of those channels need to continue to exist.

Also, do we really need separate channels for Cbeebies and CBBC? CBBC's audience, in particular, is supposed to be at school for most of the time that channel is broadcasting. CITV manages perfectly well with a single channel that is branded for preschoolers until the school age kids are home. If there is an overlap when both audiences need to be catered for, then that could be handled by BBC2, which once this new budget comes into effect will be looking for material to broadcast during the day as it will no longer have any money to make its own.

denphone · 06-10-2011, 11:39

l also think another thing the BBC could do is utilise its huges archives to fill in weaknesses in programming as it has some wonderful stuff in these archives which quite a few viewers would love to see.