Media
BBC cuts a third of natural history jobs
Published Wednesday, Oct 24 2007, 16:48 BST | By James Welsh
The BBC has confirmed that nearly a third of all jobs at its Bristol-based Natural History Unit will be axed as part of director general Mark Thompson's six year "Delivering Creative Future" job-cutting plan.
According to Ariel, the BBC's in-house magazine, there were "gasps" when Mike Gunton, the Natural History Unit's development director, made the announcement.
Budgets for the unit have been slashed from highs of £37m down to £25m, although Gunton said that savings would primarily affect non-peak programmes such as the already-axed Wild, and that landmark programmes such as Planet Earth would be safe.
"There continues to be a strong commitment to, and investment in, the landmark series for which the NHU is famous," Gunton told staff.
According to Ariel, the BBC's in-house magazine, there were "gasps" when Mike Gunton, the Natural History Unit's development director, made the announcement.
Budgets for the unit have been slashed from highs of £37m down to £25m, although Gunton said that savings would primarily affect non-peak programmes such as the already-axed Wild, and that landmark programmes such as Planet Earth would be safe.
"There continues to be a strong commitment to, and investment in, the landmark series for which the NHU is famous," Gunton told staff.
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