BBC to cut up to 1,000 jobs due to £150m licence fee income shortfall

The BBC is to cut up to 1,000 jobs, including many managerial roles, because of a £150 million shortfall in its licence fee income.

Announcing the cuts to staff, the corporation's director-general Tony Hall said an increasing number of people do not watch live television, so do not need to pay the licence fee.

It is understood that around three layers of management will be cut, while some of the BBC's divisions will be reduced.

The jobs are mainly going in professional and support services amid moves to cut back on duplication of roles.

The BBC said its proposed steps will be:

• To reduce the number of divisions. First by joining up technology teams across digital, engineering and worldwide. Further changes are also possible

• To reduce the number of layers from the top to the bottom of the organisation. In some places there are currently 10 layers of people and management and this will be cut to a maximum of seven in the future.

• To reduce management roles in all areas of the BBC. A simpler organisation will"inevitably" require fewer managers, especially at senior levels.

• To simplify and standardise procedures across the BBC particularly looking at how professional and support areas such as marketing and communication, finance, HR, IT support and legal are structured and can be simplified.