Restructure, Layoffs at BBC Online

LONDON: Up to 360 posts will be eliminated as part of a restructure of BBC Online, which also includes setting "a much clearer digital agenda" for the British public broadcaster.

The changes, approved by the BBC Trust, include delivering a better quality service, based on the BBC’s five editorial priorities; a 25-percent reduction in the service license budget and a 50-percent fall in the number of top level domains; commitments and clarity on what the BBC will and will not do online; a pledge to engage with the industry twice a year about its plans; and a target of doubling the number of referrals to external websites by 2013/14 to around 22 million each month.

The new BBC Online will be divided into ten areas: news, sport, weather, CBeebies, CBBC, knowledge & learning, radio & music, TV & iPlayer, homepage and search. They will have common technical features such as consistent design, improved navigation, and the ability for license fee payers to personalize and access them across a range of devices.

Announcing the changes, Director-General Mark Thompson said, "BBC Online lies at the heart of the BBC’s digital future. As in television and radio, license fee payers look to the BBC to inform, educate and entertain them online. As digital technologies advance, internet delivery of content becomes more important and more profound in our lives. BBC Online is a huge success, but our vast portfolio of websites means we sometimes fall short of expectation. A refocusing on our editorial priorities, a commitment to the highest quality standards, and a more streamlined and collegiate way of working will help us transform BBC Online for the future. I know that these changes will be painful for affected staff. But I firmly believe that they are right for the BBC at this time."

Editorial priorities include delivering high-quality, breaking news with rich multimedia content; more culture and arts coverage in the entertainment and arts section, and "safe, creative spaces" for kids.