BBC's Tim Davie to set out 'future' for broadcaster in all-staff speech after viewing figures plunge

BBC's Tim Davie to set out 'future' for broadcaster in all-staff speech after viewing figures plunge

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GB News
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 15/03/2024

- 07:41

Updated: 15/03/2024

- 08:25

A memo sent to all staff has sparked concern about possible restructures or cuts

Director General Tim Davie is set to deliver an all-staff speech about the "future direction of the BBC and its role for the UK" later this month.

It comes as the BBC face a £90million funding shortfall after a new licence fee settlement.


In a fortnight, Davie will address "a new wave of technological change reshaping the media landscape."

A memo sent to all staff has sparked concern about possible restructures or cuts, Deadline reports.

Tim Davie

Director General Tim Davie is set to deliver an all-staff speech about the 'future direction of the BBC and its role for the UK' later this month

Getty

After making his speech on March 26, Davie said he will "hold sessions with each division to look at what this means for everyone in more detail and what we need to prioritise as we set goals for the year ahead".

Despite the speech expected to be broad, some insiders anticipate more "digital first reshuffling".

The announcement of the speech comes 10 days after new BBC Chair Samir Shah used his first staff memo to warn that "tough choices and hard decisions are to come" at the broadcaster.

The BBC's licence fee is set to rise by £10, to £169.50 per year from next month.

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The fee has remained controversial, and many are unhappy at being forced to pay the extra fee to use their televisions.

Davie's note said: "A new wave of technological change is reshaping the media landscape and bringing fresh challenges for us all: to our democracy; to our creative economy; and, to society."

He also thanked staff for: "Deliver[ing] some outstanding content across the BBC and taking big steps in our work to transform the organisation."

Last month, the BBC confirmed that a Scottish news programme is to be axed after "dismal" viewing figures.

The BBC

he fee has remained controversial, and many are unhappy at being forced to pay the extra fee to use their televisions

PA

The Nine was introduced in 2019 as part of a dedicated Scottish channel.

The cancellation follows years of low viewing figures for the programme.

It will be replaced with a 30-minute show on the BBC Scotland channel after its half-hour Reporting Scotland bulletin on BBC One.

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