Shrinking

Another sad day for the World Service, with 73 jobs to close, and still some way to go to licence-fee funding - when, apparently, Lord Patten says the BBC will try to improve its position.

I have readers who will put me right on this - I think the impact will be more than 73 posts. World Service is announcing its own directly-employed staff cuts - 44 in language services, 25 in World Service English, including management, distribution and announcers, 4 in WS property - but some of the de-commissions will affect other providers.  Presumably World Service made a financial contribution to Evan Davis' bi-media "Bottom Line" - does it still have sufficient funding without it ?  Reduction in hours of news output will have an impact on Helen Boaden's news and current affairs teams. The ending of the Strand will hit Audio & Music teams.  Unless that's all included...