Wednesday 24 Sep 2014
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is to reshape Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online by 2013 to deliver its public service mission in the digital age.
The reorganisation will mean the service licence budget for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online is reduced by a quarter. It will also require the closure of up to 360 posts.
The new plans, which set a much clearer digital agenda for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, are the first step in the delivery of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's strategy, Putting Quality First.
The changes, which have been approved by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trust, will deliver:
Under one unified strategy, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online will be transformed into 10 distinctive products: News, Sport, Weather, CBeebies, CΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, Knowledge & Learning, Radio & Music, TV & iPlayer, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔpage and Search. Each of them will share common technical features such as consistent design, improved navigation, and the ability for licence fee payers to personalise and access them across a range of devices, from computers and mobiles to tablets and TVs.
To deliver the new Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ will implement new ways of working around product management, including enhanced collaboration between teams from editorial, technical, design and audience research.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Director-General Mark Thompson said: "Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online lies at the heart of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's digital future. As in television and radio, licence fee payers look to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ to inform, educate and entertain them online. As digital technologies advance, internet delivery of content becomes more important and more profound in our lives.
"Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online is a huge success, but our vast portfolio of websites means we sometimes fall short of expectation. 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 Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online for the future.
"I know that these changes will be painful for affected staff. But I firmly believe that they are right for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ at this time."
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is also announcing a reduction in scale and scope of the website and is spelling out areas of refocus, closures and reductions, along with clarity on areas Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online will not cover at all.
Editorial focus of the new Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online:
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is announcing a set of closures and reductions as follows:
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online will not:
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online service licence budget will be reduced by Β£34m from Β£137m today to Β£103m by 2013/14 (see note 1). As a result, there will be up to 360 proposed post closures which will be phased in over the next two years.
As announced by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trust in December last year, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online's three-year strategy and business plan will be reviewed annually by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trust. In addition, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online will engage with industry twice a year about its plans.
1. Financial: The 25% reduction (Β£34m) in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online service licence budget by 2013/14 is a part of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's recently stated cost-cutting measures to deliver 20% savings as a result of the recent Licence Fee settlement, delivered early.
2. Management of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online: The Online Direction Group (ODG), which is chaired by the Director of Future Media & Technology Erik Huggers, is responsible for ensuring that Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online meets the terms of its service licence. ODG is responsible for setting the editorial strategy for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online, with Roly Keating, Director of Archive Content, acting as editorial lead on behalf of the Group, while Andy Conroy, General Manager for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Online, has operational management responsibility for the service. From 1 March, Ralph Rivera will assume the chairmanship of ODG following his appointment as Director of Future Media with a seat on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Executive Board. This follows a reorganisation of FM&T, announced last week, in the wake of Erik Huggers' departure at the end of February.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Press Office
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