Commissioning Ban At BBC Lifted

The six week ban on the commissioning of new television programmes at the BBC has ended but staff were warned of further cutbacks and the prospect of job losses. The ban was imposed while the implications of reducing corporation borrowing were considered.

Will Wyatt, managing director of BBC television, said that some features and music programmes would have shorter runs, and some staff would be shed, mainly those on short-term contracts.

The freeze was designed to help the BBC to meet a government inspired target of eliminating its outstanding £80 million borrowing requirement by 1997.

At the moment BBC borrowings, which have been as high as £183 million, are about £80 million and are aiming to be virtually eliminated by December 1996.