BBC to cut 550 jobs in cost-saving drive, including news division layoffs

LONDON: Britain’s BBC public service broadcaster will cut 550 jobs, including in its news and content divisions, it said on Wednesday, as part of plans under new director-general Matt Brittin to save £500 million over the next three years.

The BBC is facing a battle to stay relevant as viewers, particularly younger audiences, shift to streamers and other digital platforms.

In March, the corporation named former Google executive Brittin as its new director general. At the time, BBC Chair Samir Shah said there was a need for radical reform at the publicly funded organisation, and Brittin said it faced a moment of “real risk”.

The cuts to its news operation will include closing some long-running programmes, merging production teams across shows and a review of senior on-air roles.