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BBC to close 200 sites, drop 360 jobs

26 January 2011 01:16 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. BBC said Monday it would cut over 200 websites and 360 job positions over the next two years, as a result of BBC Online’s budget cut plans by Â£34m, APA reports quoting Press TV.

Amongst the websites to close up are the teen services Switch and Blast and community site 606. There would be a drop in the general number of sports news, live sport and show business news.

The BBC’s plan to close the websites are part of its cost cutting measurements in order to provide 20% saving due to the licence fee settlement.

The BBC director general Mark Thompson considered the changes as being painful "but our vast portfolio of websites means we sometimes fall short of expectation. "

"A refocusing on our editorial priorities, a commitment to the highest quality standards, and a more streamlined and collegiate way of working will help us transform BBC Online for the future," he added.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretary Jeremy Dear has criticized the new BBC’s policy, saying "The NUJ will not stand by idly if members are forced out of their jobs."

"The attack on BBC jobs and online services shows the BBC’s contempt for hard-working staff. It makes no sense to cut back the BBC website as increasing numbers of people rely on the internet," he said.