Allowances

The Radio 2 drive to send more and more production to indies (Bob Shennan has set himself a target of 34% by the end of 2011) has a financial edge to it.  It's evening and weekend shows mainly, and now he's added the weekday overnights - with Janice Long propelled into the arms of Wise Buddah, based in Great Titchfield Street, and Alex Lester to be minded by Somethin' Else of  Old Street.  This follows Weekend Wogan's transfer to Wise Buddah and Brian Matthews' Sound of the 60s move to Unique.

The strategy means the indies bear the cost of "unsociable hours" working, which, thanks to liberal terms and conditions of employment at the BBC, cost in-house production teams big numbers.  Will the indies pay half-night shifts, full night shifts, taxis in and out, and allowances for "Unpredictable Working" ?