The BBC has announced around 1,800 job cuts over the next six years.
'There will be a smaller BBC but one which packs a bigger punch because it is more focused on quality,' director-general Mark Thompson said, announcing some of the biggest staff cuts in the broadcaster's history.
A total of 2,500 posts are to be phased out in the next six years, the BBC statement said, adding that the creation of some new jobs and 'natural staff turnover' would offset this.
On Wednesday, Thompson met governing body the BBC Trust to detail his strategy for plugging a £2 billion shortfall which opened up in January when the British government announced how much public funding the BBC would receive up to the financial year 2012-13.
The corporation also confirmed a swathe of other cost-saving measures including selling its west London headquarters, 3% annual efficiency targets for the next six years and making 10% fewer new programmes in that time.
It will also merge its largely separate television, radio and online news operations into one newsroom. News and current affairs will be one of the departments worst hit - the BBC said it expects to slash up to 490 posts over five years.
The BBC described the measures as 'a radical programme of reform' which would deliver a 'smaller but fitter' organisation. Unions have said they will ballot on strike action if there are compulsory redundancies.
