Ofcom blasts BBC over cuts to its TV and radio news operations that has seen presenters Joanna Gosling, Tim Willcox and David Eades quit
- Ofcom chief worried a lack of information about changes is causing confusion
- BBC plans to launch the 24-hour TV channel in April as part of a bid to cut costs
- This comes as BBC backtrack on plans to axe to full time choir BBC Singers
Ofcom have blasted the BBC for a lack of ‘detail and clarity’ over cuts to its TV news and local radio operations.
The regulator’s broadcasting chief slammed the broadcaster, saying he is worried about a lack of information about the changes causing confusion for their audiences.
This comes following an exodus of some of the BBC’s most experienced presenters after the decision to create a new channel that will merge BBC News and BBC World News.
David Eades, Joanna Gosling, and Tim Willcox – who shared more than 60 years experience at the BBC – all opted for voluntary redundancy after deciding not to take part in a recruitment process.
‘We’ve been particularly disappointed by the BBC’s lack of detail and clarity about the changes,’ Board Director at Ofcom Kevin Bakhurst told The Times.
Joanna Gosling – who joined the BBC in 1999 – bid an emotional farewell as she signed off from her final broadcast on January 26. She was met from applause from inside the studio as she came off air for the last time
David Eades (left) and Tim Willcox (right) also quit after opting for voluntary redundancy after deciding not to take part in a recruitment process for the new channel
He added: ‘The absence of important information has resulted in a lot of uncertainty for audiences who are not clear about what the changes will mean in practice for the services they use.
‘Our strict new reporting rules will ensure the BBC is held to a higher level of public accountability, requiring it to clearly explain its plans before going ahead, as well as evaluating whether they work.’
The BBC plans to launch the 24-hour TV channel in April as part of a bid to cut costs after news that the license fee is to be frozen for the next two years.
It will be broadcast from London during the day and Singapore and Washington DC overnight.
Around 70 BBC staff are expected to lose their jobs from across all areas.
The broadcaster is also set to cut local radio as they propose stations share more content, airing less programming unique to their areas.
This would see local programming restricted after 2pm and afternoon programmes across England shared between 39 local radio stations.
The news came as the BBC backtracked on their plans to axe their full-time professional choir, the BBC singers, who will appear at the Proms after a huge backlash.
BBC journalists took part in a strike on March 15 over proposed cuts that would see 48 jobs lost.
Eades, Gosling and Willcox quit in January after deciding not to take part in a recruitment process for the new channel.
A group of 15 presenters were doing screen tests and interviews for six positions, with Deadline citing sources who described the process as ‘humiliating’ given the applicants’ decades of experience.
Joanna Gosling – who joined the BBC in 1999 – bid an emotional farewell as she signed off from her final broadcast on January 26.
She was met from applause from inside the studio as she came off air for the last time.
The veteran broadcaster said: ‘Now it is just about time for me to say goodbye for the last time.
‘I am signing off after 23 years at BBC News and before I go there are just a few things I wanted to say. I know this job is personal.
‘We come directly into your home to tell you what is happening – good, bad, funny, sad.
The BBC plans to launch the 24-hour TV channel in April as part of a bid to cut costs after news that the license fee is to be frozen for the next two years. Around 70 BBC staff are expected to lose their jobs from across all areas
‘And in doing my work I always consider how you might be responding to the news you are hearing and what you might want to know.
‘But your response to me leaving has been completely unexpected and I have been really touched by the wave of warmth and kindness from you, and I want to say thank you for all of your good wishes. It really has meant a lot to me.’
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘We welcome these changes which reflect the need for the BBC’s regulation to evolve for the digital age so we can best serve all audiences with impartial news and distinctive UK content in a fast-changing global market.
‘We are committed to transparency and will set out how we plan to deliver for audiences in the year ahead in our upcoming Annual Plan.’
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