More of the same ?

21st Century BBC DGs have talked a lot about moving at speed, leading change, etc. Let's look at the history of 'personalised recommendations' on iPlayer. 

The BBC officially launched iPlayer in 2007. In 2010, they offered sign-up to a BBC ID, claiming "Now, as soon as you've played a couple of programmes, our recommendations system has enough information to guess what you may like and offer personalised programme recommendations for you, and so when you next return to the iPlayer home page you'll now see two extra zones: For You and Friends". It was 2017 before they made 'sign in' compulsory, in theory exposing us all to 'personalised recommedations'. 

Alongside this, in 2015, there was talk of a 'public service algorithm'; the idea that, instead of giving you more of the same, or pandering to your already demonstrated preferences, the BBC should 'educate' viewers and listeners by more tangential recommendations. James Purnell promised that, in 2019, the new BBC Sounds app would “pop your bubble”.  He won the approval of Amol Rajan, then BBC Media Editor "An algorithm designed to promote scepticism rather than reinforce prejudice will not have the same commercial appeal as those that make, for instance, YouTube what it is. But, depending on its efficacy, it could potentially have a public benefit: Namely, to replace time-wasting with education". 

DG Lord Hall followed up with the promise of something similar for iPlayer to "break the echo chamber of suggested content".  

Scroll forward to today, and my own line of "Recommended for you" on iPlayer. I should explain that on our various tv, nearly every, wife, daughters and grandchildren, sign in as me, which must confuse things. Today, I am pointed to 1: The Cage, which it should know I'm already up to the last episode; 2: Amandaland, which my partner is already watching, and I find too agonising; 3: Sort Your Life Out Unpacked, a video podcast spin-off aimed at my partner; and 4: Beyond Paradise, which we've both tried and neither of us can stand. 

According to the well-informed Jake Kanter, new DG Matt Brittin told BBC staff this week of his own experiences with iPlayer:  "He noted that after watching breakout comedy hit Small Prophets, he would have liked iPlayer to recommend Detectorists, another series written by Mackenzie Crook. Brittin added that when he went to watch Silent Witness, he was served the very first episode by iPlayer, rather than the latest season."

There's a fundamental conflict constricting iPlayer. There are the data scientists still trying to machine learn 30 years of output, to create some majestic and encyclopaedic yet undesignable gateway; and there are the schedulers, curators and creators fighting for their time and space on the 'front page'. Common sense calls, like linking Small Prophets and Detectorists, go by the wayside in this hand-to-hand struggle. 

Personally, I'd like to see a space for the unsung Programme Index on iPlayer.  Using Radio Times' listings, it currently offers a route to over 361,516 playable programmes, searchable by date, time channel and key words in the listings.  Alongside, create a UK editor for the iPlayer front page, and let him or her lead us away, using human intelligence, from 'more of the same' recommendations.  It should be a joy to see it change much more often...  

Thrown out of the Nest

According to the latest quarterly RAJAR figures, 27% of us listen to the radio through a 'smart speaker' at least once a week. Around the world, there's a battle been Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, built into devices like the Echo Dot and Google Nest Mini.  

Amazon Alexa systems seem to be ahead globally, with around 65-70%; Google Assistant gets around 20-25%. 

So Google has a small but substantial share of the UK market, including the AV sytems of Tradingaswdr Towers. Since at least May 13th BBC Sounds has acknowledged a 'known issue'.  

"We are aware of an issue where live BBC Radio streams aren't playing as expected on some Google speakers. The stream may cut out, or the audio may repeat or 'loop'. Google are investigating this issue. We will update this page when we know more." 

There's no 'may' about the cut outs experienced here. Classic FM, Jazz FM all fine.  It's been going on too long - Matt, sort it out. 

Matt's interests

Little to be learnt from BBC DG Matt Brittin's declaration of interests, signed off six days ago. He seeks to continue his voluntary role as a steward and commentator at the Henley Royal Regatta; and he's hanging on to a scheme to deliver a Turing memorial sculpture to King's Cross, presumably within viewing distance of Google's London HQ, in 2027. He and a former Google colleague set up a private company for that purpose in February. 

No shares to declare - there's a 5% barrier, and 5% of Google/Alphabet's market capitalisation would be worth over £178 billion. But there's a Section 40 exemption, protecting disclosures about third party interests of family and close personal relationships...  

Matt film

And all staff email: 

 "The BBC has proved throughout its history how quickly it can reinvent itself to serve the needs of audiences - from restructuring for World War II to repurposing during Covid to spinning up services in conflict zones. We need, collectively, to call on that sense of urgency now.

"That means moving with velocity and clarity. Excellence at the BBC has always been founded on great, creative storytelling and brilliant, independent journalism. Today it also means making sure we get the right stories in the right formats on the right platforms.

"We must be where audiences are, and experiment more bravely: test ideas, learn quickly and back what works. Audiences will value the fact we are listening, innovating and working hard to serve them better.

"I know change will not be easy. Tough choices are unavoidable as we make savings. We should ask ourselves, honestly: if we were inventing the BBC today, what would we do? Then respond with clarity, pace and purpose."

 

Ringo

 “I’m also very aware how complicated, uncertain and fast changing the world is, and I think when I look at the 100-year history of the BBC, how it serves its audiences, how it’s adapted at pace and has risen in times of crisis, I also believe that today the world needs the BBC more than ever, here in the UK and around the world, for today and for tomorrow.”

Thus the BBC's new Director General Matt Brittin to the Press Association on arrival at Broadcasting House this morning at 8:15am. So far, no moving pictures - were the warriors of News Content not deployed ?

The picture is from PA.  Shoes look like leather, perhaps with slightly high ankles; at least not trainers. For a man who loves cycling, a car coat is an odd choice.  Open neck shirt and two bags.  A ring on his left index finger....

Terf wars

 

Former BBC News boss Fran Unsworth has revealed the extent of the trans Trojan Horse operation inside Auntie, in a frank interview with former BBC Newsnight and political producer Rob Burley. 

Burley's article, for Unherd, catalogues key events and flashpoints over time - all sides in this Wild West period seem to have had persecution complexes. Clearly Fran felt that she couldn't rely on some of her senior colleagues who were pushing for more than appeasement, so there may be more to come. Our picture shows Evan Davies while at Newsnight in one of a series of 'organised interactions'  set up with AllAboutTrans. 

One Direction

The job freeze at the BBC does not apply to "Generative AI" where six roles have just been advertised. One is for Head of Direction, Generative AI, which is apparently different to the existing role of Director, Generative AI, held by Peter Archer. 

I'm advised that this is all part of a change that will reduce the overall size of the GenAI team. 

Man of the people

The BBC's UK Editor Ed Thomas has been sent out to vox pop twice this week, to provide some gritty Northern balance to coverage based in Downing Street. First he went up Blackpool Tower, because he could; there were no local elections in Blackpool. Yesterday, he went to Bootle. He didn't mention the local election results, where Labour hung on quite well on Sefton Council. How soon will a BBC reporter turn up in Makerfield ?  And will the reporting feature more than beautifully shot vox pops ? 

There seems a reluctance by the BBC's Political team to take us through the most likely scenario. First, all candidates seeking to replace Starmer have to wait until the outcome of the by-election. Streeting and Rayner have made it clear a contest without Burnham isn't going to satisfy the Party sufficiently; maybe even Streeting and Rayner campaign in Makerfield, for the 'good of the party'.  Then all three (or just two) agree on the mechanics of a contest.  If it's three, the one with 81 triggers it at a joint press conference (all fingers on the trigger). If it's just two (and I think that's more likely, cos Rayner will join the Burnham ticket), they'll probably both secure 81 to fire the starting gun. If it's three, Starmer may stand again, but I doubt it. If it's just two, and they both present with supporters' lists into three figures, he won't try.  

Back story ?

It may or may not be related. 

There's news this morning that the Comcast/Sky plan to buy the tv side of ITV is still progressing; one of the important loose ends is the future of ITN. ITV is a 40% shareholder in the news provider; the others are the Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) 20%; Thomson Reuters 20%; and Informa plc 20%.  The Sky Newsroom is thought to lose £100m a year; ITN is just in profit, but carries a £100m pension fund deficit. 

Yesterday Rachel Corp stood down as ITN CEO. 

Radio by numbers

No enormous swings for BBC radio output in the latest quarterly listening figures, covering January, February and March. 

Reach for Radio 2 and Radio 3 was down 4% year on year - though Radio 3 Unwind may have taken some ears away from the mothership; it reached 388,000 in its first full quarter of figures. Classic FM fell 8% year on year.  In 'talk', Radio 4 and Radio 5Live were a tad down, 1.9% and 0.4% respectively. LBC was up 8.7% to 2.9m, a record. Times Radio fell 2.9% year on year. 

BBC Local Radio in England will welcome a fall of just 0.46% year on year; Radio Scotland was up 11%, but Radio Cymru was down 6%, and Radio Wales 8.5%.  Radio Ulster was down 8.7%. 

The press release for Sounds has them beating all sorts of records; but 65% of listening hours is to 'live radio'.  We note that Newshour from the World Service ranks No 4 in the BBC's worldwide podcast rankings; presumably BBC Studios will re-invested some of the consequent advertising revenue in preventing the unpleasant and unnecessary changes to the production team's rota.