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BBC planning to share staff with local newspapers as part of reform

The BBC's director general is to lay out plans for the future of the corporation today, including a multi-million pound proposal to share staff and resources with local newspapers.

In a speech, Tony Hall will announce the "Open BBC" plan, which will include a network of 100 "public service reporters" shared with local news providers.

The BBC is also expected to announce an expansion of the World Service, including its first broadcasts into North Korea, as part of plans for its future.

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Lord Hall: Tough choices ahead for the BBC

Credit: PA

Lord Hall said that Chancellor George Osborne's July Budget had left the BBC facing "some very difficult choices ahead" and that some services would have to be closed or reduced.

In a settlement reached ahead of the Budget, the corporation agreed to help finance spending cuts by shouldering the cost of free television licences for people aged over 75.

It will cost the BBC an estimated £750 million by 2020, almost a fifth of the corporation's current annual income.

Lord Hall said that it meant the BBC would have to save 20% of its income over the next five years at a time when its share of TV revenues was likely to fall.

The BBC faces a very tough financial challenge. So we will have to manage our resources ever more carefully and prioritise what we believe the BBC should offer.

We will inevitably have to either close or reduce some services.

– Lord Hall, BBC Director General
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BBC planning to share staff with local newspapers as part of reform

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