大象传媒

Category: 大象传媒

Date: 21.03.2005
Printable version

拢221m a year savings in content and output areas by March 2008

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2,050 posts to close - 13% reduction in headcount in content and output

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total cost savings of 拢355m a year released to reinvest in programmes

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大象传媒 Director-General Mark Thompson today announced savings of 拢221m a year in the organisation's content and output areas by 2008, which will be reinvested back in to programmes.

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Today's figures include the closure of 2,050 posts and represent a 13% reduction in headcount in content and output areas.

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They follow the first round of 46% headcount savings announced two weeks ago in the 大象传媒's Professional Service divisions amounting to 拢139m.

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Annual costs savings by 2008 now total 拢355m - after a small contingency - which is ahead of the 拢320m target set last December.

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This represents an overall 19% reduction in the 大象传媒's UK public service workforce by 3,780 through redundancy, natural staff turnover and outsourcing.

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Mr Thompson told all 大象传媒 staff: "This is all money we plan to spend on programmes and content, both to improve the services we deliver to audiences right now and to build strong 大象传媒 services in the future.

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"All divisions are now finding ways of achieving these savings through genuine improvements rather than crude cuts."

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He said that, over the coming months, there would be a lot of hard-edged activity across the 大象传媒 to make the changes real.

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This would include revisiting the 大象传媒's technology strategy, simpler processes, more prioritisation and rewarding people for excellent leadership.

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Acknowledging that there were risks in undertaking change on such a large scale, Mr Thompson said: "We are going through the toughest period any of us can remember. It's a difficult and painful process but necessary.

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"We need to free up money to start investing in our digital future, to end our current Charter in December 2006 on budget and to show we are serious about providing value for money."

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The savings, by March 2008, break down as follows:

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TV - 47 posts (18%). Savings 拢37m

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Radio & Music - 150 posts (15%). Savings 拢9.4m

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New Media Central - 58 posts (18%). Savings 拢7.7m

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Nations and Regions - 735 posts (13%). Savings 拢54.4m

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Drama, Entertainment and C大象传媒 - 150 posts (10%). Savings 拢45.2m

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Factual & Learning - 424 posts close (21%). Savings 拢22.9m

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大象传媒 News - 420 posts (12%). Savings 拢34.4m

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大象传媒 Sport - 66 posts (13%) Savings 拢9.9m

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And

Professional Services - 1,730 posts (46%), Savings 拢139m.

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All savings will be phased over the next three years through a combination of modernising production, eradicating duplication and reducing administrative support staff.

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In terms of reinvestment, Mr Thompson said a balance had to be struck between investment to boost the quality of today's services and investment in services of the future.

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But the savings meant that by 2008/09 there would be 拢355m of fresh investment each year.

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Investment priorities include:

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拢47m a year by 2008 in TV drama on 大象传媒 ONE and 大象传媒 TWO

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拢45m for News, boosting original journalism, current affairs, Middle East news coverage and news on-demand

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拢52m for Nations & Regions' local output, plus an increased share of network TV spend

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Investing in Building Public Value ideas, including 拢32m to help New Media develop platforms and navigation, on demand and two-way applications.

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Mr Thompson said that investment in existing services could proceed, but new services needed to be piloted and tested.

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