[chris]

Really wish the BBC would be honest with the licence fee payer and not pass off blatant cuts to services as "plans to modernise".  Just be honest in these releases that services need to be cut due to the latest licence fee settlements.

Well they were always going to put a positive spin on it. 'We're reducing our service because of funding cuts' is probably worse to say than 'plans to modernise' which itself isn't a great statement

I’ve never understood why the BBC is always so afraid to say services are closing because of budget cuts. Surely it helps the case for increasing the licence fee?

[DTV]

I’ve never understood why the BBC is always so afraid to say services are closing because of budget cuts. Surely it helps the case for increasing the licence fee?

I suspect there's an element of overcautiousness at work here. The licence fee cuts are ultimately a government decision and so there might be a concern that being seen to 'regrettably' cut services due to budget cuts could be viewed as an implicit criticism of the cuts and thus government policy. It's definitely overthinking things, but is the sort of mad logic that often is involved in the BBC's attempts to avoid the government's ire.

Also, to be fair, favouring terms like 'finding efficiencies' and 'modernisation' over 'we have no money' is not an exclusively BBC thing. Organisations and companies will always try to put a positive/neutral spin on negative stories.

[Brekkie]

That is understandable though when the budget cuts come from within, but when they are forced upon you I think the BBC needs to stand up for itself a bit more rather than just say nothing for fear of not being politically neutral.

Surely can't be long too until we see some aspects of the BBC affected by strike action - indeed surprised it hasn't happened with BBC News already.

[BBI45]

Surely can't be long too until we see some aspects of the BBC affected by strike action - indeed surprised it hasn't happened with BBC News already.

Funny you say that...

radiotoday.co.uk 

BBC journalists to vote on strike action over local radio plans – RadioToday
BBC journalists are to vote on strike action over local radio plans announced th…
  Source: radiotoday.co.uk

[Josh]

From 32 down to 20 shows for the BBC Introducing brand:
www.bbc.co.uk 

Upbeat future for BBC Introducing on local radio and Sounds - Media Centre
20 new BBC Introducing programmes will broadcast across the BBC’s 39 local stati…
  Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Now airing twice a week in what they call "a bigger platform and audience than ever before" for artists.

[Deejay]

This is very much the current trend, promoting digital as a wider-reach platform when the bottom line is a near 50% cut in programme titles (although it’s now twice a week as opposed to just once and presumably will feature on daily output somehow too)

[chris]

This is very much the current trend, promoting digital as a wider-reach platform when the bottom line is a near 50% cut in programme titles (although it’s now twice a week as opposed to just once and presumably will feature on daily output somehow too)

I believe the second airing is just a repeat of the first.

[Steve in Pudsey]

So a bigger platform with less access to it?

[UTVLifer]

twitter.com 

[Keith]

Looks like strikes at local radio will be coming soon.
www.bbc.co.uk 

BBC local staff to strike on Budget day over radio cuts - BBC News
The 24-hour stoppage will coincide with the government's Budget on 15 March…
  Source: www.bbc.co.uk