BBC Local Savings Plans
Today BBC Local has announced proposals to meet savings targets and ensure sustainable, strong and distinctive local services into the future.
The BBC is facing significant financial challenges due to a number of factors including a decline in licence fee income. In June, the BBC set out plans to deliver towards its £500m savings targets, including the need to save £9m and close 90 roles from BBC Local. Today a further update has been provided on how these BBC Local savings will be delivered.
At the same time, the BBC plays an essential role within local democracy and life, and we must keep evolving with audience needs while delivering a sustainable and strong service.
These plans contribute towards savings targets, while seeking to protect parts of our output that we know audiences value most and where we can make the most impact.
Changes will be made in consultation with staff and unions. The changes are in scope of the BBC’s operating licence requirements.
Local news
- In local news, we are proposing a more consistent production model across our regional news hubs. The aim is to simplify structures and create greater capacity for high-quality digital journalism.
- We are proposing to reduce the number of specialist correspondent roles to enable there to be two dedicated, multi-platform correspondents in every BBC region, focused on delivering distinctive, high-impact journalism as trusted personalities across all our platforms.
- Rather than being tied to a specialism, correspondents would have the freedom and capacity to pursue the stories that matter most to people where they live, from investigations and public service accountability to powerful human stories that reflect local communities.
Local radio
- In Local Radio, we are proposing changes to off-peak weekday and weekend programming from January 2027, affecting some evening and weekend output and bringing the current late show to an end by April 2027. This will allow us to create a clearer editorial focus at these off-peak times, while contributing to the savings needed.
- Six regional shows currently broadcast on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings proposed to come to an end and be replaced by local live sport, one of 18 regional Introducing, one of 10 Upload shows, or our all-England Make A Difference programme depending on schedules and fixtures.
- We are proposing to adjust Saturday morning schedules with 18 regional and local breakfast programmes from 8am-12pm (in place of current 6-10am shows) and a new all-England early breakfast programme from 6-8am kicking off the weekend with a focus on sport.
- On Sundays, there would be six breakfast programmes from 6-10am (in place of 14 currently) with a faith focus throughout the morning for all and the final hour dedicated to gardening, followed by 18 regional or shared mid-morning programmes from 10am to 2pm.
- Proposals include bringing our current 10pm-1am late programme to an end and working with BBC Radio 5 Live to develop a new weekday speech Late Show, along with their existing weekend Late show. This would lead into Through the Night, which will continue to be made by BBC Local.
- No changes are planned to weekday day-time programming, local news bulletins, or journalism on local radio, local sport coverage including home or away football match commentaries.
- New talent shows (Introducing and Upload) and Black and Asian community programmes continue as normal with more prominence across the week.
