{"id":650080,"date":"2026-05-18T09:44:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T09:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/650080\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T09:44:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T09:44:16","slug":"bbc-director-general-matt-brittin-day-one-on-savings-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/650080\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC Director General Matt Brittin Day One On Savings & Technology"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tNew BBC<\/a> Director General Matt Brittin<\/a> is not wasting any time on day one, telling staff early Monday morning that the nation\u2019s 100-year-old public broadcaster needs to \u201cexperiment more bravely\u201d and that he wants to \u201creinvent public service broadcasting for the 21st century.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tIn a note to staff, seen by Deadline, the former Google EMEA chief said \u201cwe must be where audiences are, and experiment more bravely: test ideas, learn quickly and back what works.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tHe also swiftly addressed the mega savings plan he is walking into <\/a>that will see around 2,000 BBC staff laid off, equating to about 10%. \u201cI know change will not be easy. Tough choices are unavoidable as we make savings,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n\tThese savings comprise one of Brittin\u2019s three main areas of focus, he wrote, which are charter renewal, editorial excellence and \u201cincreased velocity \u2013 making the savings we must and the choices we should, simplifying the BBC for staff and audiences alike.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThat means moving with velocity and clarity,\u201d he said. \u201cExcellence at the BBC has always been founded on great, creative storytelling and brilliant, independent journalism. Today it also means making sure we get the right stories in the right formats on the right platforms.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tIntriguingly, and off the back of several big BBC scandals, he noted: \u201cI want to make sure we are always backing the right people to make decisions with clear accountability. We must never allow our duty to take risks and deliver quality to be undermined by unnecessary process or misplaced caution.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tMet by protests<\/p>\n

\n\tBrittin was met at the front of the BBC\u2019s New Broadcasting House HQ in London by a small group of protesters holding National Union of Journalists placards, taking umbrage with the layoffs in the BBC News division.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tMatt Brittin arrives on day one at the BBC. Image: Carl Court\/Getty <\/p>\n

\n\tHe is now gearing up to lead his first all-staff call tomorrow at 11 a.m. GMT (3 a.m. PT).<\/p>\n

\n\tMeanwhile, in a video posted on the BBC\u2019s social media channels that felt reflective of his past life working for a giant U.S. tech firm, Brittin said that as a \u201cfirst time insider\u201d he has spent time over the past few weeks traveling around the country seeing \u201cfirst hand\u201d the work the BBC teams put in. As a Director General who hasn\u2019t previously worked for the BBC, Brittin is a rare breed.<\/p>\n

\n\tBrittin said his goal as director general is to \u201creinvent public service broadcasting for the 21st century.\u201d \u201cWhat would the pioneers of the BBC have done if they\u2019d had today\u2019s technology and reach in their hands?,\u201d he questioned.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe 60 second vid revealed the current BBC show Brittin is enjoying is dark crime thriller Mint.<\/p>\n

\n\tWhen faced with the big question about the BBC\u2019s biggest show of all, Brittin said he is a \u201cfaithful\u201d not a traitor.<\/p>\n

\n\tBrittin\u2019s note in full<\/p>\n

\n\tHello everyone,<\/p>\n

\n\tIt\u2019s an honour to join you as Director-General and to be asked to lead this incredible organisation.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn the last few weeks, I\u2019ve met teams in each of the four Nations, internationally and across genres and formats, to listen and to learn. As a lifelong fan of the BBC, it\u2019s been a special privilege to witness the world-class expertise and teamwork behind the output first-hand.<\/p>\n

\n\tI\u2019ve seen production from Ambridge to Shetland, met legends of local radio, delivered tea to galleries deep in election coverage and celebrated teams collecting BAFTAs by the armful \u2013 to name but a few.<\/p>\n

\n\tIt has all underlined just what an extraordinary, priceless asset the BBC is for all of us. It has shaped who we are as a country and how the world sees us. It has shaped me too. In an accelerating world of limitless choice, its trust, reach and creative strength are unrivalled.<\/p>\n

\n\tI\u2019m struck by how far the BBC\u2019s impact goes beyond our own output and shores. So many people trained or inspired by the BBC go on to contribute brilliantly elsewhere, and I\u2019ve seen how critical that creative investment is for the UK at home and worldwide. If you travel internationally, you know how often people share, unprompted, their love for and trust in the BBC.<\/p>\n

\n\tToday, the BBC has never been more needed \u2013 on the side of the audience as their most trusted news provider, the cornerstone of our creative economy, and a force that brings people together. I know we face very real challenges, but at a time of flux and uncertainty, people here and around the world need us to meet the moment with courage and vision.<\/p>\n

\n\tI\u2019ve already seen our brilliant creative, editorial and technical people coming together to meet the moment every day. The BBC has proved throughout its history how quickly it can reinvent itself to serve the needs of audiences \u2013 from restructuring for World War II to repurposing during Covid to spinning up services in conflict zones. We need, collectively, to call on that sense of urgency now.<\/p>\n

\n\tThat means moving with velocity and clarity. Excellence at the BBC has always been founded on great, creative storytelling and brilliant, independent journalism. Today it also means making sure we get the right stories in the right formats on the right platforms.<\/p>\n

\n\tWe must be where audiences are, and experiment more bravely: test ideas, learn quickly and back what works. Audiences will value the fact we are listening, innovating and working hard to serve them better.<\/p>\n

\n\tI know change will not be easy. Tough choices are unavoidable as we make savings. We should ask ourselves, honestly: if we were inventing the BBC today, what would we do? Then respond with clarity, pace and purpose.<\/p>\n

\n\tAs I get underway, my focus will be on three priorities:<\/p>\n

The case for the BBC\u00a0\u2013 Making the strongest possible argument for our future as part of the Charter process<\/p>\n

Editorial excellence\u00a0\u2013 Backing the bold journalism and storytelling that define the BBC at its best<\/p>\n

Increased velocity\u00a0\u2013 Being clear on our priorities, making the savings we must and the choices we should, simplifying the BBC for staff and audiences alike.<\/p>\n

\n\tEditorial excellence is the very foundation on which the BBC\u2019s reputation has been built. I have asked the Executive Committee to begin looking at this immediately, working with colleagues across the BBC, and will be appointing a Deputy to ensure this ambition is addressed and sustained.<\/p>\n

\n\tI want to make sure we are always backing the right people to make decisions with clear accountability. We must never allow our duty to take risks and deliver quality to be undermined by unnecessary process or misplaced caution.<\/p>\n

\n\tMy goal is yours: a thriving BBC. Enduring public service values realised with creative and editorial excellence, innovation and courage. To do this we must be simpler, faster and more connected with audiences than ever. I look forward to meeting more of you over the coming weeks, and to getting started together.<\/p>\n

\n\tMatt<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New BBC Director General Matt Brittin is not wasting any time on day one, telling staff early Monday…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":650081,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[8827,88,243753,92],"class_list":["post-650080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-bbc","tag-entertainment","tag-matt-brittin","tag-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/650080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=650080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/650080\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/650081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=650080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=650080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=650080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}