Minder ?

Well done to George Entwistle, who will be acting as boss of BBC Vision in the New Year, as Jana Bennett heads to BBC Worldwide, and until a permanent replacement is found.  Via Media Guardian.

This is a grand elevation for George, who ran BBC4 in an acting role in 2007, and will now have to resolve differences across BBC1, 2, 3, 4, BBCHD, and the Red Button, as well as taking some pastoral care of BBC Films. UKTV and BBC America.  It's a bit odd that Jana can't stay a bit longer; Worlwide has managed without a President, Worldwide Networks and Global iPlayer for some time.  However, Jana's salary has always been a problem, with a total package of £517k.  George can expect some acting pay on top of his current £197k, but not enough to close the gap.

This news doesn't quite scupper my theory that there's room for re-organisation of "output" departments to reduce overheads, crashing tv, radio and online commissioning budgets together.  DG Thommo may be hoping this, or something like it, gets some traction in his "big conversations" with staff promised for 2011.