The BBC faced the threat of strikes today amid claims that up to 600 jobs could be cut after the corporation confirmed the closure of its digital radio station 6 Music.
Director general Mark Thompson told staff that the Asian Network radio station will also close and there will be cuts of 25 per cent in the BBC website budget.
Confirmation of the cuts, which had already been leaked, sparked anger among staff, with warnings hundreds of jobs could now be lost. Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of the broadcasting workers’ union Bectu, said up to 600 jobs could go.
Writing in the Guardian today, Mr Thompson said the BBC "should not attempt to do everything" and "should leave space for others".
Mr Thompson added: “It must listen to legitimate concerns from commercial media players more carefully than it has in the past, and act sooner to meet them.
“It needs the confidence and clarity to stop as well as to start doing things.” The review comes amid debate over the future of the BBC’s £3.6 billion annual funding from the licence fee, and recent long-running criticism of some of the salaries paid to its stars and executives.
Music legend David Bowie had joined efforts to back 6 Music, which boasts has 695,000 listeners and a DJ line-up that includes Jarvis Cocker and Lauren Laverne.
“6 Music keeps the spirit of broadcasters like John Peel alive and for new artists to lose this station would be a great shame," he said. Whispers about the demise of the station has already led to a Facebook campaign opposing the axe, with more than 60,000 supporters signing up.
Mr Morrissey of Bectu said he believed the cuts were politically motivated. “It is obvious that the BBC is being bounced by its competitors and by the political climate ahead of the upcoming general election,” he said.
“These proposals are unnecessary and it is not acceptable for the BBC to be offering up services and jobs as some kind of sacrifice ahead of the general election.”
Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, added: “Public pressure can help persuade the BBC to put its viewers and listeners first, rather than allowing the corporate media barons to have their way and begin dismantling a vital national service.
“These plans smack of an attempt to appease commercial and political interests. Hard-working staff shouldn’t be used as a political football and we will fight any compulsory redundancies.” The two union leaders are due to meet Mr Thompson tomorrow.
PA