The move comes in the wake of the two-year TV licence freeze, with the BBC investing in its digital output instead. <\/p>
BBC Two staple Newsnight is set to be cut back and overhauled as part of the broadcaster\u2019s money-saving strategy.<\/p>\n
The move comes in the wake of the two-year freeze to the price of TV licences, with the broadcaster also struggling with the effects of inflation.<\/p>\n
BBC News and Current Affairs CEO Deborah Turness acknowledged that the corporation has had to make \u201cdifficult choices\u201d, telling BBC News<\/a>: \u201cWhen we started work on this announcement, I did not know if it would make financial sense to keep Newsnight on air.<\/p>\n \u201cWe, like many other news organisations, have streamlined our editorial teams to avoid duplication. It simply no longer makes sense to keep a bespoke reporting team dedicated to a single news programme with a small and declining audience, however good that programme is.\u201d<\/p>\n The programme will have a new, shorter format in the shape of a \u201c30-minute late-night news-making debate, discussion and interview programme\u201d, Turness said.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n Newsnight\u2019s current team of 57 reporters will be more than halved, with only 23 remaining, according to BBC News.<\/p>\n Long-standing presenter Mark Urban took to social media to share his thoughts, saying: \u201cThe honour of presenting @BBCNewsnight falls to me tonight. I have worked on the programme for 32 years, around the world, risking my life many times for its journalism. You can well imagine my feelings at cuts to our staff and budget of more than 50%.\u201d<\/p>\n The honour of presenting @BBCNewsnight<\/a> falls to me tonight. I have worked on the programme for 32 years, around the world, risking my life many times for its journalism. You can well imagine my feelings at cuts to our staff and budget of more than 50% https:\/\/t.co\/zyQTwFKIiI<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Mark Urban (@MarkUrban01) November 29, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>