The BBC's long-running current affairs program, Newsnight, is reportedly facing the possibility of being axed as the corporation endeavors to save £500 million. Staff members fear the show could be shut down by the end of next year, a move that would mark the end of more than four decades on air.
The potential closure is part of a broader cost-saving initiative by the BBC, which aims to reduce its overall expenditure by half a billion pounds over the next three years. This plan also includes a reduction in commissioning spend by approximately £80 million by the end of the 2027-28 financial year. Hundreds of staff across the broadcaster are facing redundancy as part of these measures, with 550 jobs already announced for elimination in June.
Sources indicate that the BBC is shifting its focus towards social media engagement and its streaming service, iPlayer, with success increasingly being measured by online engagement metrics like "clicks." Following the axing of Newsnight's special investigations team, the program's total staff count has reportedly fallen from 57 to 23.
Staff are concerned about the program's future, with one source telling The Sun that budget reductions are "likely" next year. "Everyone is concerned for Newsnight and how it will fare in the next cuts," the source stated. "We've been warned there are likely budget reductions and revisions next year. It's a worrying time."
Newsnight has been a staple of BBC programming since 1980, hosted by notable presenters such as Jeremy Paxman, Kirsty Wark, and currently, Victoria Derbyshire. The program gained significant attention for its 2019 interview with Prince Andrew regarding his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, which was conducted by Emily Maitlis and reportedly drew two million viewers.
A BBC spokesperson acknowledged the financial challenges, stating that the News division will "play its part" in the £500 million cost-cutting initiative. The spokesperson also highlighted the program's recent successes, noting that Newsnight has "significantly increased its audiences, won an RTS award and is now being moved to a peak-time slot on Friday evenings."
In June, the BBC merged the production of Newsnight with that of "Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg," and BBC Radio has also experienced significant cuts. The broadcaster has not confirmed Newsnight's axing but has indicated that all departments will contribute to the required savings.