BBC: Will cut up to 2,000 jobs

The BBC is set to cut up to 2,000 jobs as part of changes aimed at making savings of around 20 percent, according to media sources Thursday.The corporation will today hold a series of meetings with its staff across the UK when it will reveal details of its Delivering Quality First initiative.Director General Mark Thompson will unveil details of the cuts, with industry sources indicating to the British media that it is likely that around 2,000 jobs will be lost.The BBC committed itself to saving billions of pounds from its budget after the annual licence fee was frozen at 145.50 pounds for six years.In an internal message sent to staff earlier this week, Thompson said thousands of them had made comments and proposals over the past nine months as part of the process.He said "You brought us new ideas, caused us to adapt or drop some of our own early ideas, and helped us shape the final set of proposals which we've been discussing with the BBC Trust in recent weeks." It has been reported the corporation is considering selling off its White City building in west London as it bids to cope with its new financial reality.The BBC's best-known west London home, Television Centre, is already up for sale.There has also been speculation that a number of original BBC2 daytime television shows could be scrapped and replaced by repeats to ease financial pressure, as well as cuts to local radio and Saturday night entertainment shows.Earlier this year, Thompson refused to rule out closing channels to save money but insisted there was "a smarter way of making savings".Meanwhile, the BBC has committed to reducing the pay bill of senior managers by 25 percent and the number of senior managers by 20 percent, and Thompson has admitted it might lose some of its top stars as pay is cut for on-screen talent.