Matt Brittin, the BBC’s new director general, warned in his first memo to staff that “tough choices are inevitable”.
The former Google executive, who describes himself as a “lifelong fan of the BBC”, opened his message by saying that in recent weeks he had been “listening and learning across genres and formats” with teams in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and overseas.
“This event highlights what a special and invaluable asset the BBC is to all of us,” Mr Brittin said. “This country has shaped who we are as a country and how the world sees us, and it has shaped me as well. In a world where endless options are accelerating, its trust, reach and creativity are unparalleled.”
He added: “Today, more than ever, we need the BBC as the most trusted news provider, alongside our audiences, as a cornerstone of our creative economy and a force that brings people together. We know we face very real challenges, but in times of flux and uncertainty, people at home and abroad need us to meet this moment with courage and vision.”
In a subtle nod to its technology expertise, the broadcaster’s new boss said the BBC needed to move with “speed and clarity”, which included “ensuring we get the right stories, on the right platforms, in the right formats”.
He also acknowledged that cost-cutting measures were inevitable, saying: “We know that change is not easy. Hard choices are inevitable in making savings. We must honestly ask ourselves: If we were to invent the BBC now, what would we do? And we should respond with clarity, pace and purpose.”
Mr Bulletin said he would discuss the future of the broadcaster as part of negotiations with the government over the Royal Charter document, and would focus on three areas: “editorial excellence” and “improving speed”, including “making the savings that are needed and the choices that need to be made to simplify the BBC for both staff and viewers”.
He has already asked the BBC’s executive committee to consider the theme of “editorial excellence” to ensure it “commits to and sustains this ambition”.
He said this includes “supporting the right people to make decisions with clear accountability.”
Mr Bulletin replaces the embattled Tim Davie, who oversaw a number of scandals during his five-year tenure, from the revelation that Hugh Davies, the BBC’s highest-paid newsreader, received images of child sex abuse while at the BBC, to the ongoing $10 billion lawsuit from President Trump over excerpts from one of its most prestigious documentary series, Panorama.
At the same time, the BBC is fighting for its future, seeking more government funding as costs soar.
Mr Brittin is the BBC’s 18th director since it first began broadcasting more than 100 years ago.
