Fifty jobs could go as part of BBC Wales cuts

Most of BBC Wales' 746 staff work in Cardiff

Up to 50 jobs could go in Wales as the BBC implements budget cuts, starting in 2025.

BBC Wales said cuts will come from 746 staff members, with 25 to 30 editorial and production roles, and 20 jobs in the operations department set to go.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) called for urgent reconsideration of the cuts saying it would "further hollow out local news provision".

“BBC Wales, like the rest of the corporation is having to make savings to achieve the overall target set out by the director general in March," BBC Cymru Wales director Rhuanedd Richards said in a statement.

"These savings are necessary to ensure the BBC operates within its means and address the changing nature of production methods and commissioning in an ever evolving industry.

“While acknowledging the challenges, our creative ambition continues, to ensure value from the licence fee and that we adapt to the changing needs of audiences in Wales.

"This means investing in more content from Wales for our online services; BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds, BBC News online and BBC sport online."

The job cuts are part of £200m in saving measures, originally announced for next year by the BBC's director general Tim Davie in March.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: “Coming on the back of a painful cull across BBC Local, these latest cuts across its regions and nations will further hollow out local news provision at a time when resources are stretched to breaking point."

Laura Davison, senior organiser, added: "Licence fee freezes, making the corporation fund free licences for the over-75s, and subsequent small increases have left the BBC in a perilous state."

A voluntary redundancy exercise will begin shortly, a BBC Wales spokesperson said.

Heledd Fychan, Plaid Cymru member of the Senedd for South Wales Central, said the cuts were "extremely worrying".

"The BBC is an important employer here in Wales, and produces quality content," she said.

"Many will be concerned that the cuts will add to the democratic deficit that already exists in Wales."