News algorithm

 

At No 3 in this morning's 'Most Watched' on BBC News, a man who cleans trainers, first published on 26th January. 

Transparency issues

The ground floor Media Cafe in New Broadcasting House becomes home to the BBC Club today, with an opening party hosted by the DG, Tim Davie, no less. It's moved from the ground floor of Wogan/Western House, where the lease was surrendered to save licence fees. Passers-by to the old Club along Great Portland Street couldn't see members relaxing with liquid refreshment - but there's as yet no of sign of frosted glass along the windows new home open to Portland Place pedestrians.

In other transparency matters, it's not clear what rent the BBC Club Ltd is paying for the new space. And it's even less clear how much the BBC Club drinkers will have to budge up when the Media Cafe is open to audiences in the BBC Radio Theatre. 

Not News round-up

Today's BBC News clicking-chasing headlines include "Cushion covers 'saved my mum's life'"; "Surgery for Indian woman who inhaled nose pin", "Namibia condems tourists posing naked on Big Daddy dune" and, still hanging around, "The fate of Korea's 'first and biggest' sex festival". 

This latter story was given full online treatment by a BBC correspondent two days ago, and was carried in the local South Korean press on the 19th April, a full week ago. The festival was cancelled. It didn't happen. Yet you have to click the headline to find that out. 

The BBC wants more of this tosh. They're recruiting a "Senior Journalist, BBC News Social - Weekend Lead"

You’ll be commissioning bespoke content for TikTok, telling stories on the world’s biggest news Instagram account and breaking news across WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube and X as well as driving audiences to our website. 

 

Katty

Gary Lineker's Goalhanger podcast boys have 'borrowed' former BBC News correspondent Katty Kay for their bid to conquer the USA. 

Katty's current BBC deal is just with the commercial wing, which she acknowledges in the intro with co-host Anthony Scaramucci.  “And I'm Katty Kay. I'm a US special correspondent for BBC Studios. I've been covering American politics for 25 years.”

And I'm sure the American audience will completely understand the nuanced difference between a  BBC News correspondent and a BBC Studios correspondent. Won't they ?

Not quite giving up

In theory, TalkTV stops being part of the linear tv world from 30th April. In fact, if you have a reasonably recent version of Freeview or a Smart TV, TalkTV is simply moving from 237 (next to GB News) to 294 (just after Purpose Media, delivering "Christian Television Programming from well-known Global TV Networks and leading Christian Ministries"). 

They're everywhere

The clue is in the name. It's very difficult to avoid Universal Music or their many subsidiary labels in the world of music, both classical and pop. 

Sam Smith's 2014 album, In The Lonely Hour, was released through Universal Music. Florence and The Machine's 2009 album, Lungs was released on Island, part of Universal.  Both are to be performed again live as part of the BBC 2024 Proms season. 

BBC Radio 3 Controller Sam Jackson came to the BBC in April 2023, after just over three years as Executive Vice President, Global Classics and Jazz, Universal Music Group.  

He spent 15 years with Classic FM. In 2014, Classic FM launched "Composed", an app streaming classics from Decca and Deutsche Grammophon, part of Universal; it closed in 2016. Decca became Classic FM's CD publishing partner, moving away from Sony BMG. 

Where ?

One way to get your 'hits' up for the UK regions is odd attribution.  

Next: The Welsh

After BBC DG Tim Davie inexplicably engaged with the Tory 1922 committee of MPs in October, the Scottish National Party secured a similar opportunity for a behind-closed-doors meeting with their MSPs in Holyrood yesterday. 

Afterwards convenor Stuart McMillan said  "The SNP is a firm supporter of public broadcasting and today's meeting was an important opportunity for MSPs to engage directly with the director-general.

"This was a wide-ranging discussion which explored the recent cuts to Scotland-based programming, the importance of accuracy in reporting – particularly in news and current affairs – and declining public trust in the corporation and media more widely. SNP MSPs will continue to make the case for greater investment in the BBC's commissioning budget being spent in Scotland, as well as holding the UK Government to account for its sweeping cuts to the corporation's funding in recent years.

"I thank the director-general for his time today and look forward to assessing progress on the issues raised as we continue to hold the BBC to the highest standards to protect the future of public broadcasting in Scotland."

Singing together

Some new minutes from the BBC Board - but they've skipped publication of those for the November meeting.

The Board went to Cardiff for their December meeting. It was fully attended, so we can assume all members were either silent on the cuts to local radio, or their thoughts were not recorded. 

"The Board noted an update on changes to local services. Greater investment in online news provision had resulted in higher quality, more frequently refreshed news pages with greater prominence. Network News was now running more local stories with national prominence."

[With reference to 'higher quality', I offer in evidence to the contrary a range of dashcam footage; see previous posts]

In January, the Board met with Elan Closs Stephens still in the chair, but with Samir Shah in attendance as an observer.  They had a poke at the Commercial Board, about how much it was planning to give back to the public service side....

"Directors requested that the Commercial Board explore additional options regarding the dividend paid to the public service"

Company secretary Phil Harrold is guardian of the minutes, so presumably he skipped this paragraph, as the Chief Financial Officer sang choruses of "We're in the money". 

The board approved an amendment to the BBC’s signing authority protocol which provided for the addition of the Chief Financial Officer to the list of individuals considered as an Officer of the Corporation for the purposes of singing [sic]authority.

Trimming

Kelvin McKenzie, a columnist for those who have joined GB News' membership scheme, tells us that TalkTV is parting company with Vanessa Feltz. He claims her contract is worth £700k (something to remember when Huw Edwards' £450k is revealed).  Next week's schedule for TalkTV is not yet available; TalkRadio shows Vanessa still in place.

Dan Wootton, formerly of GB News,  claims 'leftie' Vanessa is on her way along with Nicola Thorpe, Rosanna Lockwood and JJ Anisiobi.