The British Broadcasting Corporation, or BBC, says 500 jobs will go from its workforce of almost 22,000 people after the publication of its latest annual report.

The BBC is a publicly funded service, with most of its income raised through an annual television license fee of just under 170 pounds ($219). Although it is dependent on a renewable charter for its existence, it is independent of the government.

The license fee supports the corporation's television channels, radio stations, its website, among other services.

Changes in viewing habits often driven by technical innovations have meant the BBC's place in the broadcasting market has come under increasing pressure, and in recent years, under the previous government, the license fee has also been limited to minimal increases as the nominally independent corporation has found itself drawn into an increasing number of political disputes.

"In real terms, the license fee generated 30 percent more income in 2010/11 than it does today — a difference of more than 1 billion pounds a year," the report said.

The latest cuts come on top of more than 450 jobs lost in local radio, television, and online services that were announced two years ago.

Chief Operating Officer Leigh Tavaziva said the corporation is "already well on the way to delivering the 500 million pounds of savings and reinvestment plan we announced in May 2022… as we transform the BBC, we remain committed to a leaner, more efficient organization".

The BBC's director-general, Tim Davie, said he welcomed the support of the new government for universal public service broadcasting but admitted the corporation faced "considerable financial and market challenges", and hinted that more job cuts could be on the way as part of what he called "a massive transfer of skills and resources from linear to digital".

Something else that Davie had to address at the publication of the report was the negative publicity around one of the corporation's most popular shows, Strictly Come Dancing, the original BBC production that has been adapted in countries all over the world as Dancing with the Stars.

The build-up to the 20th series of the show, a competition that sees celebrities paired with professional dancers, has been overshadowed by allegations about behavior in training that has resulted in two male professional dancers being dropped from the show.

Davie defended it as "a wonderful show" on which hundreds of people have had "a brilliant experience", but said he was "disappointed" to have heard the allegations.