BBC to cut 1,000 hours of content as savings target jumps to £400 million

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The BBC has announced that it is scrapping 1,000 hours of content as the corporation's savings target increased by 40 percent.

High inflation and a licence fee freeze has contributed to the target increasing to £400 million. In its Annual Plan published on Thursday (March 30), the broadcaster said it was responding by cutting 1,000 hours of content commissions across its portfolio, among other measures.

The BBC previously projected it needed to save £285 million by 2027/28 – the end of the current charter period. It comes on top of a £300 million reinvestment plan announced last May to “better position the BBC for an on-demand world”. READ MORE: ITV This Morning viewers feeling 'ill' and ask 'what fresh hell is this' as major change made In its Annual Plan the BBC said: “The BBC has focused on efficiencies and the best allocation of resource to prioritise delivery of value to all audiences.

However, the 2022 licence fee settlement and economic environment, including exceptionally high inflation in the industry, mean our original projected annual savings requirement of £285m by the end of the Charter in 2027/28 has now increased to £400m.