Rallying cry

Some of the words may have been upbeat, but the tone was down and monotonous. BBC Studios boss Mark Linsey subjected himself to interview by Steve Hewlett on Radio 4's Media Show this afternoon.

"Staff are being remarkably calm about it" he said, about the transition from a guaranteed income of £400m a year to 100% competitive tendering. "There was some complacency around creativity", said our Mark, when BBC production had funding ringfenced. "Removing the guarantee will ensure our creativity is improved". 

He wasn't sure if he'd have to pay the BBC proper for use of the BBC trademark. Is BBC Productions sustainable in its current form ? "Not at the moment. I think we have to work at our efficiency and we have look at how we are organised, how we are set up .. There will be headcount losses across the board." Changes to terms and conditions ? "We looking into that at the moment".