Ofcom writes to BBC demanding more transparency about £200m cuts as they accuse bosses of drip-feeding information

Ofcom has written to the BBC, demanding more transparency about the £200 million in savings cuts the corporation has made so far, and has accused bosses of drip-feeding information about the ongoing job losses.In an open letter to the deputy director general, Rhodri Talfan Davies, published yesterday, the independent regulator called for the Beeb to lay out exactly how it planned to save £500million by 2028.Signed by the Director for Broadcasting and Media, Cristina Nicolotti-Squires, the letter read: 'We recognise the financial pressures facing the BBC and the need to make difficult choices. However, the measures have so far been communicated through a series of separate announcements.'Taken individually, these do not provide a clear picture of the cumulative effect of the savings programme on the BBC's services, content and audiences, or of how the BBC's strategy will ensure that it continues to deliver its Mission and Public Purposes.'A 'consolidated account' from the Beeb detailing saving measures announced or under consideration, when they would take effect and how it would affect audiences was requested.It concluded: 'Given the continuing announcements, it is important that we get this clearer picture as soon as possible.' Rhodri Talfan Davies received a letter from Ofcom demanding more transparency with the ongoing cuts Ofcom has written to the BBC, demanding more transparency about the £200 million in savings cuts the corporation has made so far and accused bosses of drip-feeding information Staff members would no doubt welcome clarity as insiders at the BBC told the Mail they 'felt in the dark' when it came to looming job cuts. When approached yesterday by the Mail, Talfan Davies, who acted as interim director general in April after Tim Davie resigned and before Google boss Matt Brittin took the helm, admitted he had not read the letter but said: 'I think we're transparent.'Meanwhile, the BBC hit back at Ofcom in an official statement issued by a spokesperson: 'In June, we said we were facing significant financial pressure and needed to deliver savings of around £500 million over the next three years.'We made clear that every department would need to contribute, and that these changes would be communicated as soon as decisions were taken. We have received the letter from Ofcom and will respond in due course.'It comes as Talfan Davies revealed it was very unlikely another big savings announcement would come before Christmas, before stressing the 'lion's share' of the remaining £300million in budget cuts had to be found before 2028.Speaking at a lunch on Tuesday afternoon for the Broadcasting Press Guild, he said: 'The executive senior team is now looking at options for the next stage of savings.'We haven't yet shared those with the [wider] team because we're still working through them. There are lots of ideas on the table, but until the Executive Committee reaches a decision, there's nothing to announce.'Last month, the BBC announced it would be shutting linear networks BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra, a move which yesterday Talfan Davies said was always a question of 'when, not if'.He warned that iPlayer and the BBC News app would become 'our flagship systems', as focus moved away from commissioning for terrestrial TV channels.Last week, executive producer Lucie Kon claimed she had received a £400,000 payout from the Beeb after alleging she faced antisemitic remarks from colleagues at the corporation.There were calls for an antisemitism inquiry last week but the deputy director general rejected the claims there was 'institutional discrimination at the BBC'.He said: 'I also understand the coverage of the last couple of weeks will have been difficult for our Jewish colleagues at the BBC and we need to talk to them and work with them to support them but I think that's different to thinking there is some sort of deep rooted issue in the BBC.'I don't think an independent inquiry is necessary, we have very robust processes, we review them quickly and of course in a large organisation there can be instances where discrimination arises but there is no evidence of any systemic issue at the BBC.'On Ms Kon's payout, he said: 'It didn't relate to findings of antisemitism in the investigation.'The Oscar-winning producer said that BBC colleagues said Zionists like her were 'evil' following the 7 October attacks.Kon's post was made redundant as part of a BBC restructure.She said the payment she received was for redundancy back pay and settlement for personal injury caused by the process.