100 BBC jobs axed in Film and World
More than 100 jobs are to go with the closure of BBC Film Unit, and programme cuts at BBC World.
The closure of Film Unit could mean up to 56 redundancies among camera, sound, lighting and support staff. Announcement of the closure, which is due to be completed by April 2000, comes after several years of reorganisation and pay cuts in the department since the BBC's internal market was launched in 1992.
Management say that the fragmentation of internal and external markets for film and single camera crews has pushed down prices to a point where BBC staff cannot compete with crews in the freelance sector.
Pricing problems were compounded by earlier rounds of redundancies which saw many well-known BBC staff setting up as freelancers, while continuing to work for same programmes they had serviced while permanently employed.
According to management, Film Unit made a 15% loss in the last financial year, and is heading for an even greater deficit this year.
In the BBC's News Directorate, the closure of two BBC World programmes, "The World Today" and "Europe direct", has resulted in 50 redundancies being announced. Among journalistic categories there are 33 losses, while 17 redundancies are planned among technical staff.
Management said at the beginning of talks on the News cuts that they hoped to achieve as many redundancies as possible by voluntary means, but could not give a promise of no compulsory cuts.
BBC World, a commercial cable and satellite channel which is operated by the BBC and receives no funding from the licence fee, has been under financial pressure for several months. BBC News say that the cuts are intended to guarantee the channel's future, and are not a prelude to complete closure.
In both areas, Film and News, discussions on the redundancies have barely begun, and the unions have not agreed to any of the proposals so far.
Meetings
Film members' meeting
1700
Friday 1 October
Conference Rooms 2/3
Kendal Avenue