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BBC cuts target children's output

26.10.07 | Caroline Horn

Children's BBC is planning budget cuts of 10% over the next five years—equating to savings of 5% a year over five years and the loss of around 88 of 460 posts. The cuts are part of the wider bid to make up a £2bn shortfall in the BBC budget.

Most of the job losses will come from television production, which is expected to lead to more programming being outsourced to independent production companies. Currently, the BBC produces 50% of its children's programming in-house and 25% from indies. The remaining 25% can be produced inhouse or outsourced.

The broadcaster is also looking to make savings from the number of programmes it commissions. "We are already commissioning fewer programmes, but what we are commissioning is higher quality," the spokesman said.

Instead it will focus on long-running, high volume shows—which have lower costs per hour—across children's drama, entertainment and factual programming. Rumours that children's programming will be moved to BBC2 from BBC1 are unfounded, a spokesman said.

The BBC still plans to go ahead with the previously announced relocation of its children's department from west London to Salford in
Manchester in 2012.

• BBC
• Caroline Horn
• children's