The Wire

As the BBC embarks on a five-year plan to cut spending, some commentators say the main losers will be minorities and regional communities who depend on local content.

The publicly-funded broadcaster will make some radical changes, like axing around 2000 jobs, to survive a 20 per budget cut imposed by the British government last year. They’ll also reduce spending on certain programs, like the Asian Network, have more repeats, and share regional current affairs shows across larger areas. Director General Mark Thompson says the changes are drastic but necessary to ensure the broadcaster has a future and that its quality remains intact.