How many is too many ?

A valued reader has asked me to write up my thoughts on the "revelation" that the Newsbeat team, serving Radio 1 and 1Xtra, has 52 staff. It surprised John Myers, who has produced a report on Radio 1,1Xtra, Radio 2 and 6Music for the Controller of Audio & Music, Tim Davie.

Let's come at it round the houses.  I've just listened to a 42 minute discussion presented by Trevor Dann (ex R1) with the real Andy Parfitt (Controller, R1, 1Xtra, Asian Network, Popular Music), Paul Robinson (ex R1) and Simon Cole (of indie conglomerate UBC, a major supplier to R2).  It's enormously cosy - only towards the end does Paul take on Andy by saying there are too many managers at Yalding House.

Andy Parfitt is proud to have been Controller R1 for 13 years - but I suspect his time is up.  He talks about the need to protect "the vibe" of the network which comes from living in a building separate to the rest of the BBC.  In the 70s Radio 1's front door was in the old Egton House (connected by an underground tunnel to Broadcasting House) and the live broadcasting came from the Continuity Suite in the Broadcasting House extension, shared with djs and announcers for Radio 2, 3 and 4.   Newsbeat started on the 4th Floor of the extension (Room 4077 - like Mash !), and first used studios that were also used by Today and other news programmes.  In the 80s, Newsbeat moved into an expensively built bolt-on to the Old Broadcasting House, with a newsroom, big studio and small news studio all of its own.  In 1996 (after most of Radio News and 5Live had headed west to TVC), Radio 1 and Newsbeat all moved to Yalding House (Yalding was previously home to Radio 3 and the Music Library).  Dedicated studios all round, trendy warehouse feel, and "vibe".  And enough space to eventually accommodate 1Xtra - and extra staff to produce news for an "urban" network.

Does having "your own front door" make difference in terms of adding "quality" to output of a network of largely sequential dj shows ? I think not. You can walk through open plan offices, huge shops, schools, etc and feel the hot and cold air of different cultures as you go. But the 80s and 90s in the BBC were all about "brands" and "marketing" - and roller blinds with Radio 1 logos were all part of "the identity" and "the culture". The same drive for its own "front door" came from Radio 2, which got its wish with the move to Western House in 2006.  Whatever culture created there went wonky in 2008, with a silo-ed chain of management that fumbled the Ross/Brand late night recording, in an isolated building with bosses off watch.  There are two sides to the current Radio 1 Culture - the oafish side of Chris Moyles broadcasting for far too long about not being paid, and the entertaining side of Chris Moyles and his impressive marathon for Comic Relief.   Moyles is a more important (and dangerous) contributor to the network culture than any building, and overall shouldn't be brought out too often in arguments about "quality".

There's a separate argument that says the Newsbeat team now is much better attuned to the network's ambitions by working physically alongside the producers and djs of Radio 1 and 1Xtra; and the djs are now more aware and supportive of the need for a good news service as a key "public service broadcasting" differentiator with commercial networks.  But that can and should be achieved within a bigger building.

So John Myers, from his commercial radio background, was "surprised" that there were 52 staff on the list.  I reckon there were no more than 20 when I first turned up at Newsbeat as a trainee in 1974.   Then the output was two 15 minute editions every week day (and a brilliant shift pattern of four ten-hour days, no weekends).  The news summaries were written by men in cardigans in the Radio Newsroom, and read by Radio 2 announcers in cavalry twill trousers and sports jackets.  In 1973, Capital Radio launched, winning its franchise from the IBA with a commitment to quality news - at one stage, it boasted nearly 30 staff working on bulletins, as well as an hour-long weekday news show "The Way It Is".

Over the ensuing years, as Ofcom has let most commercial stations off the news hook, Newsbeat has made a good case for "re-investment"; the team write and present all the news output on 1 and 1Xtra nearly round the clock and through the weekends; they also provide top quality documentaries - which used to be the province of specially hired "yoof" producers based in the lovingly-named department CAMP (Current Affairs Magazine Programmes).   Like many other areas, they got substantial web investment and flirted (a little too much for my taste) with video.

Answer the question ! Is 52 too many ? I've no idea. You can produce a radio station from an iPod shuffle if you want - but it doesn't get you many listeners.  I can answer another question.  52 is likely to be a peak. And I would like to remind you that Robin Scott was the first Controller of Radio 1. He was also, simultaneously, the Controller of Radio 2. As was his successor, Douglas Muggeridge.  Jackets and ties are also coming back....