BBC to close linear channels in ‘digital-first’ savings
MAY 26, 2022 15.05 EUROPE/LONDON BY JULIAN CLOVER

BBC Four and children’s channel CBBC will close in the next few years, while the domestic BBC News channel will merge with BBC World News to create a single channel, under new plans announced Thursday.

In a speech to staff on Thursday afternoon BBC director-general Tim Davie outlined plans for £500 million in annual savings and ‘reinvestment’ that will make the BBC Digital-led. £200 million will go to help plug the £285 million annual shortfall created by the recent Licence Fee settlement. £300 million will go into the ‘digital-first’ approach, while “Significant” amounts of money will go into new programmes for iPlayer which will also attract extra third-party investment on screen. The BBC wants to reach 75% of its audience through the iPlayer.

“Independent, impartial, constantly innovating and serving all. A fresh, new, global digital media organisation which has never been seen before,” said Davie.

“Driven by the desire to make life and society better for our licence fee payers and customers in every corner of the UK and beyond. They want us to keep the BBC relevant and fight for something that in 2022 is more important than ever.

The merger of the two news channels – the two already share a significant amount of output – will contribute towards savings in broadcast news. The channels will retain the ability to offer UK and international programming, according to the news agenda.

The combined channel will be known as BBC News.

New digital and on demand formats will be introduced for news.

Overall, there will be up to 1,000 fewer people employed in the public-funded part of the BBC over the next few years.