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BBC will cut about 500 jobs.


CircleSeven

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That part about cutting positions at its domestic radio department interests me.

 

Although I may love the BBC, it's important to note that the broadcaster gets most of its funding from the television license fee, which every British household that watches television as it's being broadcast must pay. Of course, enforcement has been getting more difficult as people watch more television online or on mobile devices. In addition, 2016 is a very important year for the BBC. Why?

 

Their Royal Charter, or the legal contract that allows the BBC to be the BBC, is up for review.

 

What does that mean? The government will take a look at the BBC; its finances, policies, staffing, output, and viewers' opinions will be taken into account as to determine whether the charter should be renewed and the BBC allowed to continue being the UK's public service broadcaster. While I expect the BBC to continue its life, one thing is certain: the license fee will be heavily scrutinized. As such, the BBC has to be very careful about what they do to their domestic radio and television services, as one wrong move will lead to anger from license fee payers. When their charter is reviewed in 2016, the license fee could be raised, lowered, kept the same, or even abolished.

 

Next year, the UK will hold a general election, its first since the Tories came to power in 2010. Whoever comes to power after that election will hold the cards for 2016. If I was an executive with the BBC, I would definitely be twiddling my thumbs about the next couple of years. While it is important to be efficient with the money it has, the BBC cannot do anything that could be perceived as lowering the quality of its output. BBC Three will go online-only in the next few months, a move that has caused the broadcaster to get criticism. It's moves like that which will cause problems for the BBC in balancing its need for efficiency with public opinion and its public service mandates.

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