BBC Sport is latest part of the corporation to face cuts

BBC has told staff working on Sport that it is to make cuts in the area which will require compulsory redundancies.

It is reported that part of the plan will be to stop having dedicated sports bulletins on the News Channel.

The cuts are part of an ongoing drive to save £500 million and shed around 2,000 jobs.

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said:

“These cuts are expected but that will be no less devastating for those affected. The slow-motion pace of the announcements will also be adding to the anxiety of those who have yet to hear their fates.

“It seems clear that cuts will have a direct impact on what sport the BBC can cover and the worry is that the quality and breadth of coverage will suffer as a result.

“All this is happening while the BBC’s charter is being renewed. Our concern is that the future shape of the BBC will already be set as a result of the current financial constraints, whatever the result of the renewal process, and that public service capability will be permanently impacted.

“Charter Renewal must put the BBC’s funding on a secure, long-term pathway and in the meantime we need to ensure we don’t sleepwalk into the loss of vital functions.”