BBC to unveil controversial cuts plan

BBC director general Mark Thompson will today officially unveil plans to cut back the corporation's size and scale in a radical overhaul.

In a briefing to staff, ministers and the media, Thompson will pledge to close two digital radio stations - believed to be 6 Music and Asian Network - shut down half the BBC website and cut expenditure on imported American programming.

Thompson will also place a £300 million cap on sports rights spending and close teen brands BBC Switch and Blast!. BBC Worldwide will further be told to dispense with its British magazines division, which publishes titles such as Top Gear and Radio Times.

Under the plans, around £600m in cost savings would be re-directed towards producing high-quality programming as part of a new focus on content. Thompson wants to inject a further £25m into the BBC Two budget and also give the channel a new remit to pursue more upmarket programming.

The strategy review was initially planned for publication on March 9 but has been rushed forward after it was leaked last Friday. Thompson believes that it will represent the most radical change in the BBC's history, but 80,000 people have signed an online petition against the closure of 6 Music.

The BBC revealed yesterday that it has also received 2,500 direct complaints about the station's closure and the end of fellow digital offering Asian Network. However, some of the corporation's rivals are unsure whether the planned cuts go far enough.

According to The Times, BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons explained the report's recommendations in a phone call at 8.30am this morning to culture secretary Ben Bradshaw.

Thompson will inform staff of the plans at 9.30am in a presentation at Television Centre, which will also be transmitted on the corporation's internal TV network.

At 11am, the media will then be handed the strategy review, which BBC executives admit is aimed at showing a potential Tory government that its house is in order.

Shadow culture secretary Ed Vaizey yesterday claimed in a leaked email to be a fan of 6 Music, despite previously welcoming the cuts.

"I am now an avid listener to 6 Music. I suspect that 6 Music has doubled its audience. I strongly suspect 6 Music will be saved," he said.

"I had no strong views on 6 Music on Friday, I now know it is brilliant with a passionate and articulate fan base."

Also yesterday, the UK music industry criticised the BBC's plans to axe 6 Music by claiming that the move will fail new British musicians.