BBC Online job cuts confirmed

An estimated 120 jobs will go in future media and technology, 70 in journalism, 85 to 90 in vision, 35 to 39 in audio and music, 17 in children’s and 24 in sport.

The broadcaster said some of the sites to close will include teen site Switch, community sites h2g2 and 606m, skills site RAW, and documentary site, Video Nation.

It said other reductions will include the replacement of most of its programme websites with automated content. Bespoke digital radio sites, 1Xtra, 5 live sports extra, 6 Music and Radio 7 will also be automated.

As part of the cuts, it said there will be fewer news blogs, while standalone forums, communities and message boards will be reduced and replaced with integrated social tools.

There will be a substantial reduction in show business news on the News website, and there will also be a reduction in the overall amount of sports news and live sport.

BBC Online will now form 10 distinctive areas: News, Sport, Weather, CBeebies, CBBC, Knowledge & Learning, Radio & Music, TV & iPlayer, Homepage and Search.

“This is the first time that BBC Online - as a whole - will have a single, unified strategy and I am confident that the new focus it will give will deliver much more for much less and enable the BBC to become as highly regarded in the internet age as it became in the broadcasting age – with six of the ten products to be based in Salford, which will become a digital hub for the BBC,” said Erik Huggers, director, future media & technology.

"BBC Online is a huge success, but our vast portfolio of websites means we sometimes fall short of expectation,” said Mark Thompson, director-general of the BBC.

"A refocusing on our editorial priorities, a commitment to the highest quality standards, and a more streamlined and collegiate way of working will help us transform BBC Online for the future."

"We are clear about the continuing importance of the BBC's Online service,” said BBC Trust chairman, Sir Michael Lyons. “But we want strengthened editorial vision and a more selective approach in the interests of both public value and market impact. This strategy is about doing fewer things better, and clearer boundaries."