The Times: 'BBC to cut website by half''

In an exclusive this morning The Times says the BBC will shut half its website, close digital radio stations 6 Music and Asian Network and introduce a cap on spending on broadcast rights for sports events.

The story by media correspondent Patrick Foster says BBC director-general Mark Thompson will, as part of a strategic review, admit that the corporation, has become too large and must shrink to give its commercial rivals room to operate.

The story says: "The BBC will also try to calm the nerves of local newspaper groups — who are suspicious of the corporation after its aborted plans to develop video-driven local websites — with a pledge not ever to produce services at a “more local” level than is currently the case."

It is also claimed: "The corporation’s web pages are to be halved, backed by a 25 per cent cut in staff numbers. Its £112 million budget will also be cut by 25 per cent. It is also pledging to include more links to newspaper articles to drive traffic to the websites of rival publishers."

The report is said to be being considered by the BBC Trust and is due to be made public next month.