BBC cuts 100 jobs in Northern Ireland

BBC Northern Ireland is planning to cut almost 100 jobs as part of its cost-cutting drive across its operation.

BBC Northern Ireland is planning to cut almost 100 jobs as part of its cost-cutting drive across its operation.

A total of 98 jobs will go in areas including editorial, technical staff, general programming and entertainment. There will also be some management losses as part of the organisation's sweeping restructuring plans.

It is estimated that six management posts will go, 37 in production, broadcasting and Interactive Services and Learning departments. Sixteen will go across news and current affairs and 39 in operations. Most of those affected will be staff members. It does not include front-line presenters, most of whom are on contracts.

Funded by the reduction in jobs and other efficiency measures, the corporation plans to invest more than £5.5 million sterling into new programmes in Northern Ireland.

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Anna Carragher, Controller of BBC Northern Ireland said: "The re-investment in content will be substantial and a creative BBC Northern Ireland can expect a fair share of it - but there is a downside to moving to a more streamlined way of operating and that is the closure of posts."

Nationally, the BBC is axing a total of 2,050 jobs in a second wave of redundancies aimed at saving hundreds of millions of pounds a year.

The cuts, announced in a special message to staff by director general Mark Thompson, follow a previous announcement of 1,730 job losses in professional services.

The BBC said a total of 3,780 jobs would be lost, a reduction of 19 per cent in its workforce.