Staff at the BBC have been told that 2,900 jobs are to be axed over the next three years.
BBC Director General Mark Thompson announced the job losses today as part of a 'transformation' of the corporation.
The departments hardest hit are professional services, including human resources, training, finances and legal services. Mr Thompson said the job losses would be through redundancies and outsourcing of posts.
The cutbacks are part of a plan by the BBC to reduce costs by hundreds of millions of pounds.
Union leaders have warned of possible industrial action if any of the redundancies are compulsory.
The BBC employs a total of 27,000 staff.
