BBC News faces 15% cost cuts as up to 2,000 jobs targeted

BBC News staff have been told to expect cost cuts of around 15%, deeper than the 10% target across the wider corporation, as part of a plan to eliminate up to 2,000 jobs in the biggest downsizing of the public service broadcaster in 15 years.

The BBC has about 21,500 employees. The cost-cutting plan totals £600m. Staff were told the 15% figure in a video meeting attended by about 300 employees. Richard Burgess, the director of news and content, who is responsible for more than 800 journalists, told staff: "Most of our savings are people, frankly." He said the cuts would be "15% of our income" and that "across news, that 15% figure is fairly consistent in most areas of news."

The BBC spent £324m on news and current affairs in the year to March 2025, according to its latest annual report. Last year the BBC employed 237 senior leaders paid from £100,000 to over £350,000. The BBC spent £140m on employees with on-air roles.

Staff affected will be told in September, with details announced in June. The BBC has already reduced travel by 40% and tightened spend on consultants, conferences, events and awards.

Matt Brittin, former top Google executive, becomes director general on 18 May. Tim Davie resigned as director general in November after highly contested claims of bias were made by a former adviser to the corporation. The development also follows the BBC’s apology for the way it edited a speech by Donald Trump, which led the US president to sue the corporation.