LONDON, June 11 (UPI) -- The BBC says it will give details next week on a proposed consolidation that could pare hundreds of jobs from the British broadcaster's vaunted news operation.
A proposal is on the table that would merge the BBC News and World Service divisions and save the network about 89 million pounds ($145 million) annually -- about 20 percent of its budget of more than 450 million pounds ($733 million) -- by 2017, The Guardian said Saturday. While the number of jobs in jeopardy weren't revealed, a percentage comparable to the budget cuts could mean up to 1,000 of the BBC's 8,000-strong news staff could be axed, the British newspaper said.
Overseas journalists are expected to feel the pinch the most as they contend for spots in the News division, which covers domestic and regional news.
The World Service is a separately funded division of the BBC; however, the network now has to contend with a freeze in licensing fees implemented last fall by the British government.
