LONDON — Matt Brittin began his tenure as BBC director general on Monday at New Broadcasting House in London, where journalists from the World Service's Newshour and Radio 4's The World Tonight were picketing over a plan to increase their workloads. Brittin, who replaced Tim Davie as the 18th director general of the BBC since its launch over 100 years ago, will address staff on Tuesday.

"I am a lifelong fan of the BBC," Brittin said in a message marking his arrival. "It has shaped who we are as a country and how the world sees us. It has shaped me too. In an accelerating world of limitless choice, its trust, reach and creative strength are unrivalled."

Brittin, formerly Google's most senior executive in Europe, said he had spent the last few weeks visiting various parts of the broadcaster. "His visits have underlined just what an extraordinary, priceless asset the BBC is for all of us," he said, adding that "tough choices are unavoidable" under his tenure.

He said he would seek to change how the BBC delivers its programming on digital platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, and intends to focus on negotiating the BBC's Royal Charter, editorial excellence, and increased velocity, including making necessary savings and simplifying the organization for staff and audiences. He has asked the BBC's executive committee to look into editorial excellence to ensure the ambition is addressed and sustained.

"Today, the BBC has never been more needed – on the side of the audience as their most trusted news provider, the cornerstone of our creative economy, and a force that brings people together," he said. The BBC is seeking additional government funding due to rising costs, and executives have been promoting the World Service as part of Britain's soft power strategy.

The picket related to a dispute over shift patterns that had been ongoing for months and affects more than 30 workers. The action was one of a series of planned strikes by staff. Staff from Newshour said they were presented with plans to add 26 extra slightly shortened shifts to their workloads, while staff on The World Tonight said they were presented with plans to add extra shifts. A modified shift pattern plan was rejected in a union vote. Journalists from the two programs said morale was "in the red" and that the proposed shifts would put already stretched staff under greater strain and risk damaging the programs as teams are spread more thinly.

"During an extended period of consultation and engagement with the union we have listened, adapted our approach, and put forward a revised proposal, and we regret that agreement has not been reached," a BBC spokesperson said. "The BBC faces huge financial challenges and we need to operate as efficiently as possible. Our priority remains ensuring our audiences continue to receive trusted news and information from the BBC."