BBC Online Facing Drastic Cuts To Make It To 2013

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The BBC is to massively overhaul its online presence over the next two years, cutting 360 positions and cutting its spending by a quarter, as part of the corporation’s new cost-cutting strategy, “Putting Quality First.”

The new BBC Online will be split into 10 products: News, Sport, Weather, CBeebies and CBBC (Both aimed at children), Knowledge & Learning, Radio & Music, TV & iPlayer, Homepage and Search. These products will share design, navigation and an increased focus on core BBC messaging for each, including faster and more local reporting, and move away from extraneous services such as social networking and message boards. Showbusiness news and op-eds will also be phased out during the transition, and despite getting its own section, sport reporting will also be reduced.

BBC Director General Mark Thompson says that the changes are necessary for the BBC’s future:

BBC Online lies at the heart of the BBC’s digital future [and is] a huge success, but our vast portfolio of websites means we sometimes fall short of expectation. A refocusing of our editorial priorities, a commitment to the highest quality standards, and a more streamlines and collegiate way of working will help us transform BBC Online for the future.

The plan still has to be approved by the BBC Trust before being put into action.

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