英ＢＢＣ、編集部４５０人解雇へ　「視聴者や環境の変化に適応」

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】英国放送協会（BBC）は29日、「視聴者ニーズの変化」に適応し、局の貯蓄目標額を達成する計画の一環として、ニュース編集部の450人を解雇する方針を発表した。（写真は英ロンドンにあるBBC本社）
　ＢＢＣは１週間前にトニー・ホール会長が辞任の意向を明らかにしたばかり。
　報道局長のフラン・アンスワース氏は、「われわれは柔軟に適応し、世界で最も信頼される報道機関であり続けなければならない。しかし、とりわけ重要なことは、現状の範囲外の視聴者にも意味あるものにしていくことだ」と述べた。
　貯蓄目標額を８０００万ポンド（約１１０億円）としているＢＢＣは、「従来のリニア放送」に支出し過ぎ、デジタル放送に十分に費用を充ててこなかったと同氏は語った。
　ＢＢＣによると、従来のテレビ放送の視聴者は減少が続いており、特に１６～３４歳で減少が顕著だという。
　ニュースやエンターテインメントに対する消費者性向の変化に伴い、多くのメディア同様、世界最大のニュース放送機関であるＢＢＣも新たなアプローチでの視聴者獲得に奮闘している。
　ＢＢＣはさらに、ボリス・ジョンソン首相率いる新政権からの圧力にも直面。ジョンソン政権は昨年１２月の総選挙の際、ＢＢＣが偏向報道を行ったと非難している。
　英政府は以前、ＢＢＣのライセンス料（受信料）制度を２０２７年まで継続すると誓約していた。英国では生放送を視聴するためにはライセンス料の支払いが法律で義務付けられており、標準料金は一世帯当たり年間１５４ポンド（約２万２０００円）程度となっている。この制度によってＢＢＣは、昨年４月３０日までの事業年度で３７億ポンド（約５２００億円）の資金を調達した。
　だがジョンソン首相は、「テレビ局というメディア機関のこうした資金調達方法が、今なお理にかなったものなのかどうか自ら問いかける必要がある」と発言している。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/01/31-09:01）

The British Broadcasting Corporation on Wednesday said it will axe 450 newsroom jobs as part of plans to adapt to changing audience needs and meet its savings target.
The job cuts come just a week after BBC boss Tony Hall said he would step down, and as the corporation grapples with a equal-pay demands and questions about its future funding model.
The BBC has to face up to the changing way audiences are using us, Fran Unsworth, director of news and current affairs, said in a statement.
We have to adapt and ensure we continue to be the world's most trusted news organisation, but crucially, one which is also relevant for the people we are not currently reaching, she added.
The BBC, which has an ��80 million ($104 million, 95 million euro) savings target, said it was spending too much on traditional linear broadcasting and not enough on digital.
One morning news magazine programme will be axed, with other job losses coming from a reduction in the number of films produced by flagship political news programme Newsnight.
Other jobs will be lost at national radio station 5 Live, and there will be a review of the number of presenters working for the broadcaster.
It noted that audiences for traditional television broadcasts continued to decline, especially amongst 16 to 34-year-olds.
The BBC newsroom will be reorganised along a 'story-led' model, focusing on news stories more than on programmes or platforms, said the statement.
This is designed to reduce duplication and to ensure that BBC journalism is making as much impact as possible with a variety of audiences.
More BBC journalists will be based outside London in future, added the corporation, following criticism that it had lost touch with the rest of the country.
- Licence fee threat -
Like many media organisations, the BBC, which is the world's largest news broadcaster, is battling new ways to win audiences, as news and entertainment consumer habits change.
Tony Hall, who leaves in six months after seven years at the helm, said it needed new leadership before talks with the government in the middle of the decade over its future funding.
Unsworth insisted that Auntie, as it is informally known in Britain, had a vital role to play locally, nationally and internationally.
In fact, we are fundamental to contributing to a healthy democracy in the UK and around the world, she added.
If we adapt we can continue to be the most important news organisation in the world.
The corporation is facing the fallout from a recent equal-pay ruling in which it was found to have discriminated against female presenter Samira Ahmed, paying her one sixth of the amount given to Jeremy Vine for hosting a similar show.
The ruling opens the door to many other claims and could end up costing the corporation many millions of pounds.
It is also facing pressure from Britain's new government headed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which accuses it of bias in reporting during the recent general election.
Tory leader Johnson told parliament on Wednesday the BBC was a cherished institution and not a mortal enemy of the Conservative party.
The government has previously committed to maintain the BBC's licence fee model until 2027, which earned it ��3.7 billion in funding in the last financial year to April 30.
A standard licence costs each British household just over ��154 ($202, 182 euros) a year, and is legally needed to watch any live television.
But Johnson has said that you have to ask yourself whether that kind of approach to funding a TV media organisation still makes sense.