The BBC will lay off 500 more staff by March 2026 as its annual report paints a worrying financial picture including a near-doubling of its deficit to almost £500M ($646M). BBC headcount has fallen by 2,000 – or 10% – over the past five years, the corporation said, and a further 500 net public service posts will go over the next 20 months. A voluntary redundancy scheme was launched today.
Headcount this year sat at 17,611. “Over the course of the next two years, we will look to further move the money we have into the priority areas that provide real value for audiences,” the BBC said. “This means, in public service, we will close and transfer roles in some areas, and create roles in growth areas.
” Severance payments topped £50M this year, according to the report, a three-year high. The news comes with rivals ITV and Channel 4 laying off around 200 staff apiece amid the difficult economic backdrop. Related Stories Legal Tim Westwood: Publication Of BBC Probe Into Former DJ Delayed Again Due To Ongoing Police Investigation Sports The 2024 Paris Olympics: How Networks, Agents & Content Makers Want To Supercharge The Biggest Show On TV For A New Generation The layoffs are being actioned as part of the BBC’s bid to become a “leaner, more agile organisation” but the annual report painted a worrying financial picture.
This year’s operating deficit increased by more than a third to £263M and is projected to nearly double to a whopping £492M by this time in 202.