The BBC has announced plans to cut 550 jobs across its news, nations, television and radio operations as part of a wider programme aimed at saving £500 million over the next two years. Get today's headlines by email The measures, outlined to staff on Wednesday, mark the first phase of a cost-cutting strategy that is expected to eliminate between 1,800 and 2,000 positions across the corporation. The broadcaster currently employs around 21,500 full-time staff. News and Radio ChangesIn a message to employees, BBC News interim chief executive Jonathan Munro said around 200 jobs would be lost within the news division, generating savings of £25 million. Among the most significant changes is the closure of Radio 4’s The World Tonight, which has been on air for 56 years. The programme will be replaced from April by a new schedule featuring a domestic news bulletin at 10pm, followed by a simulcast of the BBC World Service programme Newshour. Several other Radio 4 programmes will also be discontinued over the coming year, including Midnight News, Money Box Live, AntiSocial, The Law Show and Crossing Continents. On the World Service, The Inquiry, The Conversation and The Fifth Floor will also end. The number of permanent presenters on Radio 4’s Today programme will fall from five to four from September, coinciding with the previously announced departure of Amol Rajan. Saturday editions will be led by a single anchor. Television RestructuringBBC One’s Breakfast programme will no longer air on Sunday mornings from September, with viewers instead directed to the News Channel. The production teams behind Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and Newsnight will be merged, while some weekend television production will be shared between the News Channel and BBC One news bulletins. The broadcaster will also review its chief news presenter roles to ensure what it described as a balance between audience needs and value for money. Friday editions of Newsnight will move to a peak-time 7pm slot on BBC Two as part of a broader reshaping of the programme. Wider Savings ProgrammeThe BBC said it will review its television and radio portfolio as audiences increasingly consume content online. Plans also include cutting between 100 and 150 hours of original television programming across commissioning genres by the end of the 2027-28 financial year, alongside a reduction of around 350 to 400 hours of audio content across stations and formats. The news website’s InDepth section will operate with a smaller team, while the News Channel will place greater emphasis on international coverage to build on growth among audiences outside the UK. BBC director-general Matt Brittin said the measures announced so far would deliver around £160 million of the overall savings target. He also confirmed a 10% reduction in senior leadership roles and said further cuts would be announced in coming months, including around 700 job losses in corporate divisions. Union CriticismThe plans have drawn criticism from unions and former BBC staff. Philippa Childs, head of the media union Bectu, questioned the timing of the cuts as the BBC prepares for charter renewal discussions ahead of the current charter’s expiry in 2027. The National Union of Journalists described the proposals as damaging for audiences and warned that staff were already under significant pressure following previous reductions. Former World Tonight presenter Robin Lustig said he was saddened by the programme’s closure, describing it as a respected and thoughtful part of the BBC’s news output. Munro acknowledged ending the programme had been a difficult decision but said combining resources with Newshour would allow the BBC to serve both domestic and international audiences more efficiently. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 18 June 2026
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