The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Exodus from BBC newsroom
Several of BBC Scotland’ s best known presenters are leaving. Gordon Brewer, frontman of Newsnight Scotland and Sunday Politics, is quitting, as are anchors Bill Whiteford and Isabel Fraser, according to an article in The Times.
Long-serving correspondents Gillian Marles, Reevel Alderson, Kenneth Macdonald and David Allison have accepted voluntary redundancy.
The mass exodus comes as BBC Scotland looks to cut its budget by around £6.2 million by April.
The newsroom head count will shrink by 20 this month.
Other departures include political editor Brian Taylor, who had already announced his retirement.
Director of BBC Scotland, Donalda MacKinnon, has
stepped down to be replaced by Steve Carson on Monday.
Figures published have shown that the £44 million BBC Scotland channel costs more per viewer than any of the broadcaster’s other stations.
The Times article suggested that high production costs being racked up by unpopular shows such as The Nine contributed to need for savings.
An insider claimed that the ratings for the station’s flagship show were “disastrous”, often fewer than 4,000 viewers.
But the BBC insisted the channel, launched in Februar y, is exceeding expectations.
A spokesman said: “Viewing figures for the BBC Scotland channel are above the BBC’s own projections and in line with those of the independent regulator Ofcom.
“Outside of the five main channels, BBC Scotland reaches more viewers than any other digital channel in Scotland.
“The Nine averaged a weekly reach of 170,000 individuals across 2019.
“It is extending the reach of BBC Scotland news and is bringing in new, younger audiences.”
Since 2017, the BBC has been working on a five-year plan to achieve £ 800m worth of savings before 2022 in light of a freeze on licence fee costs.
Added pressure from the pandemic has led to the BBC targeting an additional £125m reduction in costs before the end of the financial year due to falls in licence fee collection and commercial income.
A spokesman said: “The director general has previously said the public service head count will be smaller.
“Earlier this year the BBC invited public service staff to express an interest in voluntary redundancy. This process will help ensure the BBC meets the challenges of a fastchanging media environment within its financial parameters.”