Net loss of BBC jobs expected to be 1,700

BBC director-general Mark Thompson is understood to be planning a reduction in the corporation's total headcount of 1,700 over a six year period.

Thompson is discussing his plan with the BBC Trust this afternoon before announcing it publicly around lunchtime tomorrow.

It is understood that many of the cuts will be in the BBC's news, factual and children's departments. Many of the cuts at BBC News are expected to be implemented in a relatively short period over the next few months; the radio newsroom is expected to be cut by 50%.

The total number of job cuts is expected to be in the 2,800 region over the total period but the creation of around 1,000 new positions may result in redeployments bringing the net number of losses down. For example, it is understood that some editing and production jobs are being lost in favour of an emphasis within a newly-multiplatform newsroom on producing video content for the BBC's news website.

Thompson is also expected to confirm the sale of Television Centre in order to bring £300m into the corporation's coffers.