The BBC’s director general, Matt Brittin, has admitted that the possibility of industrial action—such as strikes—is real as the organization faces ongoing disputes over pay and plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs. During a recent meeting with staff, Brittin addressed concerns about both the proposed job reductions and rejected pay offers, which saw employees turn down an average 2.1% salary increase. While he acknowledged the serious risk of strikes, he expressed hope that staff would understand the challenging financial situation the BBC is facing. Brittin, who took on the role in May, is overseeing a plan to save £500 million by 2028, a strategy developed before his arrival that he is now trying to adjust. Brittin acknowledged frustration among staff over the perceived delay in addressing the BBC’s financial problems, which have led to the need for significant cuts. He cited internal reports showing the BBC has lost £1.3 billion in revenue over the past decade, with 40% of that loss attributed to a decline in licence fee payments. This decline is linked to the growing popularity of streaming services and digital platforms, which offer alternatives to traditional TV. Brittin admitted he hadn’t fully grasped the severity of the financial issues when he started his role and noted that the BBC has exhausted its reserve funds, with income from its commercial arm already spent. Brittin warned that offering a higher pay increase would make it harder to avoid job cuts, explaining that a 1% raise for all employees is equivalent to about 180 jobs. He emphasized that the decision between reducing staff or increasing pay must be made by management, given the limited financial resources. He also noted that senior executives would receive no pay rise, while the lowest-paid employees would see an increase of more than 2.5%. Potential strikes could be a major setback for Brittin, who is currently pushing for the BBC’s national importance as discussions continue with the government about its future funding. The situation could lead to the biggest strike in over a decade, following a last-minute cancellation of a pay strike in 2014 and a smaller strike in 2023 over job losses and changes to local programming. During the call, staff raised concerns with Brittin and chief content officer Kate Phillips about the decision to renege on a guaranteed job offer made to a group of apprentices, as revealed by the Guardian. Phillips acknowledged the distress caused by the inability to guarantee the jobs due to recent financial constraints and stated that BBC News is working to find placements for those affected. The financial pressure on traditional broadcasters is evident, with Channel 4 planning to cut 340 jobs—nearly a quarter of its workforce—highlighting broader industry challenges. Despite these difficulties, the BBC remains a globally trusted brand, reaching 94% of UK adults every month.