BBC Sport is scrapping 41 jobs and ending sports bulletins on the BBC News channel as part of a major cost-cutting drive across the corporation.
The decision includes the loss of seven journalism roles, four of which are senior positions, with affected employees warned that some staff will have to reapply for their jobs and others considering strike action in response.
Staff were informed of the reductions during meetings on Wednesday. A group of producers responsible for sourcing sports stories was told in the morning that their team would be cut from 15 members to 11. Later in the afternoon, employees gathered for a summit at BBC Sport headquarters at Media City in Salford, where executives confirmed that 41 roles are being removed while five new positions are being created, resulting in a net loss of 36 jobs.
Media City in Salford, Greater Manchester, has served as the main operational centre for BBC Sport and BBC Radio 5 Live since the division relocated from London in 2011. The broadcasting complex is the principal northern hub for the British Broadcasting Corporation, the UK national broadcaster funded by the television licence fee.
Insiders reported that some employees were emotional during the afternoon gathering in Salford. One insider described the decision as "the systematic dismantling of TV sports news at the BBC as we know it." While compulsory exits remain possible, BBC representatives noted that a second voluntary redundancy window is currently open, with bosses hoping to achieve as many departures as possible through voluntary applications.
Staff were also told that four-day working weeks are being eliminated, with all employees expected to work across five days instead. Workers currently complete 40 hours across four days, and staff expressed frustration that management does not understand how television production operates.
The timing of the announcement has caused further upset within the department, as decisions are being implemented ahead of expected discussions with BBC director general Matt Brittin in the next fortnight. Brittin assumed the role of director general, the chief executive officer and editor-in-chief of the corporation, in May.
Broadcasting cuts and programme changes
The restructuring follows previous cost-saving measures under BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski, who oversaw dozens of redundancies across the sports department last year.
The department has already seen several flagship programmes cancelled. Earlier this month, the BBC announced the axing of Ski Sunday, the long-running winter sports programme presented by former British Olympic alpine skier Chemmy Alcott. The decision follows the cancellation of Football Focus at the end of last season, ending a decades-long staple of Saturday football broadcasting.
The broadcaster has also relinquished broadcast rights to major sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games, the Boat Race annual rowing contest between Oxford and Cambridge, and the Rugby League World Cup. The corporation also faced criticism earlier this year for deciding not to build a dedicated broadcast studio in North America for the upcoming summer FIFA World Cup.
Staff response and next steps
With staff facing job re-applications and compulsory redundancies, trade union members within BBC Sport are evaluating potential industrial action. Employees are expected to submit voluntary redundancy requests during the open window, while staff representatives prepare for formal discussions with Director General Matt Brittin over the next two weeks.
