The average age of the audience for Nick Grimshaw's Radio 1 breakfast show over its first three months was exactly the same as the average age of Chris Moyles' audience for his final three months in the slot - 31.9 years. (via Matt Deegan's blog).
From the Daily Telegraph: Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper last night hailed the figures as excellent, with an increase of nearly a quarter of a million listeners in the target 15 to 24 age range. “I’m delighted with the figures and they have exceeded my expectation for a brand new breakfast show”.
If these two factoids are both right, then presumably some really old people have also started listening to Nick Grimshaw... Help !
Friday update: The excellent and ever alert Matt Deegan has explained his workings: I measured q4vsq2 (as they matched) I imagine R1 looked at q3. Also I took into account 10+rather than 15+so probs both right.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Ancient
Good luck to the BBC team at the London Planning Awards tonight. Broadcasting House is a contender in the category sponsored by English Heritage entitled Best Historic Building Management. I'm not sure this necessarily refers to the age of the management team, but you never know...
Two timing
"Remarkable" says acting Director of Audio and Music Graham Ellis, of Radio 2's performance in the latest audience figures. It attracted over 15m listeners in the last quarter of 2012. The Trustees have been trying to make it duller more distinctive, by insisting on 50/50 speech/music balance during daytime, but the network now boasts an extraordinary dominance - 17.6% of all radio listening in the UK. And little sister station 6Music is up over 31% year on year.
TalkSPORT, as it waves bye bye to programme controller Moz Dee, is down 5% year on year. This will be a disappointment, considering the investment in football commentary rights. The live shows are up - but not enough to drive audience to the rest of the output.
BBC London, which said farewell in an uncomfortable way to Danny Baker, is down 12% year on year. The BBC Asian Network, which appointed Mark Strippel as Head of Programmes in September, is down 5% year on year. Radio Wales and Radio Cymru both lost close to 7% year on year.
TalkSPORT, as it waves bye bye to programme controller Moz Dee, is down 5% year on year. This will be a disappointment, considering the investment in football commentary rights. The live shows are up - but not enough to drive audience to the rest of the output.
BBC London, which said farewell in an uncomfortable way to Danny Baker, is down 12% year on year. The BBC Asian Network, which appointed Mark Strippel as Head of Programmes in September, is down 5% year on year. Radio Wales and Radio Cymru both lost close to 7% year on year.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Epigrammatic
Acting BBC DG Tim Davie has been out and about in Bristol, giving a keynote presentation at something called Digital Bristol Week. Whilst accepting that Twitterers don't always capture things accurately, Tim seems to have lapsed back into his old, odd, turns of phrase, not the plain speaking that has so far marked his interregnum.
"Human 'random' curation, like Radio 4, is going to have its place maybe even more so, in a world of infinite choice"
"Quality content will out and quality curation will out. Have faith in that"
"Bristol has a non-London sensibility, with things like Antiques Roadshow"
"Bristol's nature output is a towering unparalleled strength"
"Definitely the BBC are already working on web only and app only content"
"Technology and format should be slaves to the idea - it's all about the idea"
Best upsum Tweet ? "Reminded me of Sean Lock only less stupid".
"Human 'random' curation, like Radio 4, is going to have its place maybe even more so, in a world of infinite choice"
"Quality content will out and quality curation will out. Have faith in that"
"Bristol has a non-London sensibility, with things like Antiques Roadshow"
"Bristol's nature output is a towering unparalleled strength"
"Definitely the BBC are already working on web only and app only content"
"Technology and format should be slaves to the idea - it's all about the idea"
Always sunny
In the topsy-turvy world of BBC News, the tv channel known as BBC World is now firmly ensconced in windowless basement studios of Broadcasting House. But we can't see it in the UK - unless you find someone with an amusing sat card.
I can recommend the "Set Breakfast No 2" at an Italian restaurant not far from Highbury tube (more details on demand) for views of Nik Gowing in said basement, positioned in front of a laser disc confection of the Thames that would make Canaletto proud. It's all part of BBC's commitment to transparency.
I can recommend the "Set Breakfast No 2" at an Italian restaurant not far from Highbury tube (more details on demand) for views of Nik Gowing in said basement, positioned in front of a laser disc confection of the Thames that would make Canaletto proud. It's all part of BBC's commitment to transparency.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Funny ha ha ?
Nowt or summat ? I occasionally fall into conversation with people who actually like programmes constructed from the BBC's entertainment archives, dressed up with machine-like interviews with current stand-ups and micro-celebrities. One such well-meaning chap has noticed that an offering entitled Funny Business, billed as a series of three, narrated by Eddie Mair, seems to have stuttered and stalled at Episode 1 - Gags to Riches. Part 2 - Deal Makers, and Part 3 - Waves of Laughter, have evanesced from the schedules.
The programme's executive producer is Anne Gilchrist, who left the BBC in December to join Ruth Jones' independent production company; the producer and director is Richard Marson, once editor of Blue Peter.
The programme's executive producer is Anne Gilchrist, who left the BBC in December to join Ruth Jones' independent production company; the producer and director is Richard Marson, once editor of Blue Peter.
Be soon
Ever-innovative Radio 2 has been offering listeners two for the price of one. Funsters tuning in at around ten to nine on Sunday evening got a double dose of heart-throbs Michael Ball and Russell Davies. As they say, it was on all platforms, and the overlap is currently preserved on the iPlayer - at least, on Mr Ball's show; engineers were able to restart the premature Mr Davies on time at 9pm.
Here's a sample of both vying for your aural attention.
Here's a sample of both vying for your aural attention.
One is moving
I'm grateful to @mattbakerfans and TVForum for news that The One Show is heading out of White City and into Broadcasting House.
The plans include using the studio, which overlooks the piazza at the heart of the development, for "educational" purposes during the day - and when it comes to show time, a semi-circle of barriers will be in place to stop the inevitable face-pulling and "Hi Mum" signs getting too close to the studio windows. Main pictures below borrowed from the application documents...
BBC submit planning application for #theoneshow to move to Broadcasting House in Westminster during 2013: tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/broadca….
— Matt Baker Fans (@mattbakerfans) January 29, 2013
The plans include using the studio, which overlooks the piazza at the heart of the development, for "educational" purposes during the day - and when it comes to show time, a semi-circle of barriers will be in place to stop the inevitable face-pulling and "Hi Mum" signs getting too close to the studio windows. Main pictures below borrowed from the application documents...
Monday, January 28, 2013
News vendor
I had a gut feeling this would provide pickings as soon as it got Tweeted - a vacancy has arisen for a publicist for BBC News.
Annotated highlights from the job spec...
The post-holder will provide 360 degree [?] campaign planning and execution on priority and proactive [?] content for BBC News, through its full public service lifecycle [?] and irrespective at [?] to which medium it plays out on (including broadband, mobile phones, on demand etc as required). Campaigns could include programme publicity, relevant web or interactive content, relevant BBC Learning content, relevant opinion former activity and some event planning.
Future focus is fundamental within Communications, therefore all staff are expected to actively explore [1st of three split inifinitives] and identify new and interesting avenues for communicating effectively and imaginatively with audiences.
Apparently, you also have to be good at crisis management. Can't think why....
Annotated highlights from the job spec...
The post-holder will provide 360 degree [?] campaign planning and execution on priority and proactive [?] content for BBC News, through its full public service lifecycle [?] and irrespective at [?] to which medium it plays out on (including broadband, mobile phones, on demand etc as required). Campaigns could include programme publicity, relevant web or interactive content, relevant BBC Learning content, relevant opinion former activity and some event planning.
Future focus is fundamental within Communications, therefore all staff are expected to actively explore [1st of three split inifinitives] and identify new and interesting avenues for communicating effectively and imaginatively with audiences.
Apparently, you also have to be good at crisis management. Can't think why....
Second City Stories
Edgbaston MP Gisela Stewart will be calling on acting BBC DG Tim Davie today, and looking for more immediate strategic action for Birmingham than a high speed rail connection; she wants a commitment to network production in the second city, left by Mark Thompson, fulfilled.
Remaining staff in the BBC's HQ in the Mailbox shopping centre are rattling round the 10,000m2 site, trying out various chairs for better views. Network radio production has largely decamped to Bristol; the bulk of the Asian Network has drifted closer to paymaster Bob Shennan in London; the high spec drama studio is unused a total of nine months of the year; some daytime tv production remains, but there's nothing that makes evening schedules.
Meanwhile, the young funsters of BBC Vision are desperately piling into Broadcasting House in London, as Television Centre moves into pre-sale lock down. Already, there's been a certain amount of ill-advised flouncing about the quality of space they're getting in W1 - but they'd be well advised to keep their heads down. The new DG's in-tray has both Birmingham space and a commitment to move a further 1,000 staff to Salford Quays close to the top of the pile marked "decision required".
Remaining staff in the BBC's HQ in the Mailbox shopping centre are rattling round the 10,000m2 site, trying out various chairs for better views. Network radio production has largely decamped to Bristol; the bulk of the Asian Network has drifted closer to paymaster Bob Shennan in London; the high spec drama studio is unused a total of nine months of the year; some daytime tv production remains, but there's nothing that makes evening schedules.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Magic touch
Even the sainted Balding is having trouble making a silk purse out of Britain's Brightest. Ratings for the first four in order - 4.88m, 4.08m, 4.59m and 3.81m - are hardly trending. At 75 minutes, there is never, apparently, enough time for Clare to give all the right answers out.
Next week, it's down to one hour, and Pointless is moved into the schedule to seek a better start than that offered by Richard Hammond's Secret Service, which is missing from the line-up with two shows still to run. .
Next week, it's down to one hour, and Pointless is moved into the schedule to seek a better start than that offered by Richard Hammond's Secret Service, which is missing from the line-up with two shows still to run. .
The Army game
BBC News boss Helen Boaden seems to have split up the bits that made up her departing No 2's portfolio of interests. Steve Mitchell, who resigned on the day of Pollard publication, was styled Deputy Director.
A large part of his job was also Head of News Programmes - and that vacancy has been advertised. The department includes, amongst others, Today, File on 4 and Assignment on radio; Panorama, Newsnight and HARDtalk on television. It also runs the news output for Radio 5Live, Radio One and the Asian Network, with around 700 staff and an annual budget of £80m.
Part of the job spec: Recruiting, developing and managing a cadre [a tad military ? Ed] of more than twenty editors. And most people guess that Ceri Thomas will get the job - so he'll have to recruit a new Editor for Today into his cadre.
A large part of his job was also Head of News Programmes - and that vacancy has been advertised. The department includes, amongst others, Today, File on 4 and Assignment on radio; Panorama, Newsnight and HARDtalk on television. It also runs the news output for Radio 5Live, Radio One and the Asian Network, with around 700 staff and an annual budget of £80m.
Part of the job spec: Recruiting, developing and managing a cadre [a tad military ? Ed] of more than twenty editors. And most people guess that Ceri Thomas will get the job - so he'll have to recruit a new Editor for Today into his cadre.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Suitcase
I'd just penned the previous post when the news came through that Lord Hall of Birkenhead will assume office as Director General of the BBC on Tuesday April 2. The Trust had originally expected a March date, but this push-back is to allow Tone time to take a break before what will be a long haul. And, until he chooses someone he can trust to mind the shop, an almost continuous one.
This later start may also put a little extra distance between his arrival and the publication of the Pollard annexes, now expected in February, as the Trust's team of Crusted Governance Assistants (Fourth Dan and Above Only) scratch their heads over how much they dare cut out. 'Twas only last January that Lord Patten opined to the 2012 Oxford Media Convention on the robust strength of the BBC: "It remains a trusted national institution. And by upholding its standards, its civility, and its democratic intelligence the BBC remains something for us all to be proud of". The problem now is that civility is missing from many of the exchanges collected by Pollard and his barrister. When people were questioned on matters of fact, however disputed or poorly remembered, things are alright. When they were asked questions seeking opinions of colleagues' abilities, it seems some forgot the discussion would be transcribed, and let rip. And that's before we get to some of the views expressed in emails....
Could the Trust, as publisher, find itself in a libel court ? Or will Fleet Street have a field day when bottles of Snopaque blank out paragraph after paragraph ?
This later start may also put a little extra distance between his arrival and the publication of the Pollard annexes, now expected in February, as the Trust's team of Crusted Governance Assistants (Fourth Dan and Above Only) scratch their heads over how much they dare cut out. 'Twas only last January that Lord Patten opined to the 2012 Oxford Media Convention on the robust strength of the BBC: "It remains a trusted national institution. And by upholding its standards, its civility, and its democratic intelligence the BBC remains something for us all to be proud of". The problem now is that civility is missing from many of the exchanges collected by Pollard and his barrister. When people were questioned on matters of fact, however disputed or poorly remembered, things are alright. When they were asked questions seeking opinions of colleagues' abilities, it seems some forgot the discussion would be transcribed, and let rip. And that's before we get to some of the views expressed in emails....
Could the Trust, as publisher, find itself in a libel court ? Or will Fleet Street have a field day when bottles of Snopaque blank out paragraph after paragraph ?
Friday, January 25, 2013
Game of Thrones
Will Tony Hall's tenure as DG of the BBC be strategic or tactical ?
He seems to be on a fairly systematic series of interviews with 'players' in the current organisation. Time has certainly been spent with King of the North, Peter Salmon, at Salford - and Peter has mused on the discussions with Broadcast, suggesting that the way things are run at MediaCityUK avoids the cultural clashings of fiefdoms and their barons in London. Those warring barons and their styles have been brought into sharp relief by the Pollard Report - and are likely to be seen in high definition when the annexes are finally published.
Unfortunately, the Salford model - with a boss of whoever happens to be in a geographical patch - no longer works for London, as everyone is piling in to new Broadcasting House. It's very hard to imagine a single boss sitting on top of Vision, Audio & Music and News, reporting in to the DG.
And when Peter Salmon asserts for Salford "One thing we do is have a great management culture", there'll be a little tittering in London about how often some of those managers are elsewhere.
Nonetheless, Lord Patten, and his previous best boy, George Entwistle, had plans to restructure the way the organisation is run. So desperate were the BBC Trust to secure Tone that he'll have a free hand to do things the way he wants - or almost.
The reality is that he needs to stabilise his Executive Board before any thought of restructuring. The Directors of Vision and Audio & Music are acting; the CFO is on the way out. And, as is now the case at The Times, the non-executives have woken from their slumbers in a crisis, and are enjoying having opinions and being difficult. Our Tone needs get control - and has few places he can bring new, supportive, blood in. A narrower, simpler structure now would make the task almost impossible.
So, increasingly, my answer to the opening question - tactical. This is probably the time for safe hands, rather than radical reform.
He seems to be on a fairly systematic series of interviews with 'players' in the current organisation. Time has certainly been spent with King of the North, Peter Salmon, at Salford - and Peter has mused on the discussions with Broadcast, suggesting that the way things are run at MediaCityUK avoids the cultural clashings of fiefdoms and their barons in London. Those warring barons and their styles have been brought into sharp relief by the Pollard Report - and are likely to be seen in high definition when the annexes are finally published.
Unfortunately, the Salford model - with a boss of whoever happens to be in a geographical patch - no longer works for London, as everyone is piling in to new Broadcasting House. It's very hard to imagine a single boss sitting on top of Vision, Audio & Music and News, reporting in to the DG.
And when Peter Salmon asserts for Salford "One thing we do is have a great management culture", there'll be a little tittering in London about how often some of those managers are elsewhere.
Nonetheless, Lord Patten, and his previous best boy, George Entwistle, had plans to restructure the way the organisation is run. So desperate were the BBC Trust to secure Tone that he'll have a free hand to do things the way he wants - or almost.
The reality is that he needs to stabilise his Executive Board before any thought of restructuring. The Directors of Vision and Audio & Music are acting; the CFO is on the way out. And, as is now the case at The Times, the non-executives have woken from their slumbers in a crisis, and are enjoying having opinions and being difficult. Our Tone needs get control - and has few places he can bring new, supportive, blood in. A narrower, simpler structure now would make the task almost impossible.
So, increasingly, my answer to the opening question - tactical. This is probably the time for safe hands, rather than radical reform.
- There are now also some significant roles to fill at BBC News. Autograph books are being prepared for the departing Number 2, Stephen Mitchell. Yesterday, the long-serving head of foreign newsgathering, Jon Williams, announced he's moving to (American) ABC. Newsnight still has an acting editor. And though the Controller 5 Live reports to Peter Salmon in the warm managerial bath of Salford Quays, News will have a say in choosing a successor to Adrian Van Klaveren. It's why the network was set up (by Tony Hall ?) after all....
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Skied
Ever seen Hunderby ? Sinbad ? Mount Pleasant ? Jeremy Darroch and Stuart Murphy probably wish more of you had...
In June 2011 BSkyB announced plans to double the amount it spends on making its own content, rising to an annual figure of £600m by 2014. One presumes this was not simply philanthropic, but intended to drive audiences, and thus advertising revenue. Yesterday, Antonia Hurford-Jones, recently-arrived Controller at the female-focused Sky Living, announced a raft of new commissions, including new comedies featuring Rebecca Front, Chris Addison and Emily Mortimer, plus clutches of comedy and drama pilots.
I've taken a snaphot across the same week in January over the past four years from Barb (daily average in thousands) and you have to say that the entertainment channel audiences are not soaring away in response to this homegrown strategy. Last time BSkyB reported advertising revenue it was down to £95m for a quarter (from £105m the previous year). Next figures are due at the end of this month.
In June 2011 BSkyB announced plans to double the amount it spends on making its own content, rising to an annual figure of £600m by 2014. One presumes this was not simply philanthropic, but intended to drive audiences, and thus advertising revenue. Yesterday, Antonia Hurford-Jones, recently-arrived Controller at the female-focused Sky Living, announced a raft of new commissions, including new comedies featuring Rebecca Front, Chris Addison and Emily Mortimer, plus clutches of comedy and drama pilots.
I've taken a snaphot across the same week in January over the past four years from Barb (daily average in thousands) and you have to say that the entertainment channel audiences are not soaring away in response to this homegrown strategy. Last time BSkyB reported advertising revenue it was down to £95m for a quarter (from £105m the previous year). Next figures are due at the end of this month.
Sunrise, sunset
On cold, dull days, shivery fingers look for things to sub - good old BBC job ads.
The Controller Daytime is responsible for delivering distinctive, mixed genre programming [cf today - programmes about buying houses, repairing houses, foreclosing on houses, emigrating to new houses, and filling houses with antiques] of unrivalled quality, range and ambition for our target audience on BBC One and Two as well as being an inspired [do they mean inspiring ?] leader and providing strategic vision for BBC Daytime.
You will drive the business forward [save money year on year] by ensuring the new daytime strategy [doing what Mr Mosey says] to focus origination spend on BBC One [if by mistake we've left you with any money for new programmes, for gawd's sake put 'em on the main channel] with BBC Two as a predominantly archive service [repeat channel] meets our editorial and creative aims as well as creating and maintaining commercial partnership opportunities [getting other people to meet some of your costs].
Three days still to apply. Interviews will be held on February 7th.
The Controller Daytime is responsible for delivering distinctive, mixed genre programming [cf today - programmes about buying houses, repairing houses, foreclosing on houses, emigrating to new houses, and filling houses with antiques] of unrivalled quality, range and ambition for our target audience on BBC One and Two as well as being an inspired [do they mean inspiring ?] leader and providing strategic vision for BBC Daytime.
You will drive the business forward [save money year on year] by ensuring the new daytime strategy [doing what Mr Mosey says] to focus origination spend on BBC One [if by mistake we've left you with any money for new programmes, for gawd's sake put 'em on the main channel] with BBC Two as a predominantly archive service [repeat channel] meets our editorial and creative aims as well as creating and maintaining commercial partnership opportunities [getting other people to meet some of your costs].
Three days still to apply. Interviews will be held on February 7th.
Half a story
BBC News' records show 16 complaints of bullying made in the 12 months from September 2011, according to an FOI response. Sadly, the inquirer didn't ask how many were upheld.
At 30 November 2012 there were 7112 staff on continuing or fixed term contracts working for BBC News Group (i.e. BBC Network News, English Regions and Global News and World Service).
At 30 November 2012 there were 7112 staff on continuing or fixed term contracts working for BBC News Group (i.e. BBC Network News, English Regions and Global News and World Service).
Good baddie
I went to an excellent party yesterday, to mark Peter Donaldson's (final ?) retreat from the microphones of Radio 4. Excellent, short, speeches were made, featuring that old news-reading ripsnorter, Lee Bum Suk.
It wasn't the time for a full tour of the Donaldson days. Further research overnight has found him in a modern dress production of Julius Caesar for the National Youth Theatre in 1962 - with fellow cast members including Martin Jarvis, Hywel Bennett, Robin "Poldark" Ellis and Kenneth Cranham.
Thence, in 1964, he moves to the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park for The Taming of The Shrew, with Dinsdale Landen and Trevor Peacock.
In 1965, he's part of a stellar Royal Shakespeare Henry V at the Aldwych - Ian Holm, Eric Porter, Michael Bryant, Michael Jayston, Michele Dotrice, and more, directed by John Barton and Trevor Nunn.
The biggie comes in 1967 - lead baddie in a Sinhalese version of James Bond, (Jamis Banda, Agent Sri 007) entitled Sorungeth Soru. Peter had returned to Colombo on holiday, after touring Shakespeare there in previous years. The travel company went bust, and while stranded, he was asked to join in the filming. "It was after a couple of bottles of beer and some devilled prawns that I suggested - half in jest - playing the son of Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun".
That's probably enough. You don't need to know about blow-torches. (2105 update: Link dead, but Peter used to be part of a team running a website called "Collecting Friends" - and boasted a neat collection of blow-torches)
Thence, in 1964, he moves to the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park for The Taming of The Shrew, with Dinsdale Landen and Trevor Peacock.
In 1965, he's part of a stellar Royal Shakespeare Henry V at the Aldwych - Ian Holm, Eric Porter, Michael Bryant, Michael Jayston, Michele Dotrice, and more, directed by John Barton and Trevor Nunn.
That's probably enough. You don't need to know about blow-torches. (2105 update: Link dead, but Peter used to be part of a team running a website called "Collecting Friends" - and boasted a neat collection of blow-torches)
Team George
The BBC Trust has, on legal advice, told George Entwistle that it won't be seeking to claw back any of his pay-off for resigning as Director-General.
We are not, at this stage, told whether or not he has spend all of the £10,000 agreed to cover “reasonable, professional communication support" that was also part of the package. The Evening Standard reports that George turned to Portland Communications for that back-up - their advisory board includes Michael Portillo and Alastair Campbell; past and present clients include Tesco, Facebook, Google, McDonalds and The Scouts.
It's easy to see how you might rack-up £10k quite quickly - For each client and each project, we create a bespoke team. Drawn from across our communications, digital, public affairs and international practices we consistently deliver results for the world’s most demanding clients.
We are not, at this stage, told whether or not he has spend all of the £10,000 agreed to cover “reasonable, professional communication support" that was also part of the package. The Evening Standard reports that George turned to Portland Communications for that back-up - their advisory board includes Michael Portillo and Alastair Campbell; past and present clients include Tesco, Facebook, Google, McDonalds and The Scouts.
It's easy to see how you might rack-up £10k quite quickly - For each client and each project, we create a bespoke team. Drawn from across our communications, digital, public affairs and international practices we consistently deliver results for the world’s most demanding clients.
The other television centre
As the BBC continues to cash in on its few remaining freeholds (cf Television Centre), Archie Norman and Adam Crozier are apparently feeling bullish enough to bid over the asking price for ITV's Southbank home, confusingly known as the London Television Centre.
They have another 56 years in the building as leaseholders, at £1.5m a year, and the freeholders are seeking over £45m to be bought out. From Property Week.
They have another 56 years in the building as leaseholders, at £1.5m a year, and the freeholders are seeking over £45m to be bought out. From Property Week.
Supporting information
I'm grateful to the Evening Standard (though they're not always publically grateful to me) for information on Newsnight's audience figures - about which the BBC is normally quite protective.
"Average viewing figures since the start of this year are close to 800,000 rather than last year's average of 650,000. ..... This follows the exit of under-fire editor Peter Rippon and the arrival of acting editor Karen O'Connor".
The advert for the permanent vacancy closes February. Perhaps Karen is a candidate ?
"Average viewing figures since the start of this year are close to 800,000 rather than last year's average of 650,000. ..... This follows the exit of under-fire editor Peter Rippon and the arrival of acting editor Karen O'Connor".
The advert for the permanent vacancy closes February. Perhaps Karen is a candidate ?
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Harrumph
Just wondering - has Lord Patten watched Mrs Brown's Boys ? The most recent episode featured fellatio, foreskin and Dial A Dick jokes. At 2130, it's well into the watershed, but still attracts around half a million viewers aged 4 to 15.
Odds and ends
BBC weather forecaster Louise Lear tries to add to the richness of the profession's vocabulary. Today, it'll be "quieter".
Twitter spots Lord Patten "looking weary", as he introduces former chair Gavyn Davies lecturing on a 2020 Vision for the BBC at the Said Business School in Oxford. In the audience, acting DG Tim Davie is apparently "alert".
BBC Breakfast effortlessly trails full coverage of the Cameron Europe speech on The News Channel; Today messes about, and still can't bring itself to mention Radio 5 Live. One wag suggests "they'd rather trail LBC". A cultural question for Lord Hall, self-professed progenitor of the news and sport network...
Twitter spots Lord Patten "looking weary", as he introduces former chair Gavyn Davies lecturing on a 2020 Vision for the BBC at the Said Business School in Oxford. In the audience, acting DG Tim Davie is apparently "alert".
BBC Breakfast effortlessly trails full coverage of the Cameron Europe speech on The News Channel; Today messes about, and still can't bring itself to mention Radio 5 Live. One wag suggests "they'd rather trail LBC". A cultural question for Lord Hall, self-professed progenitor of the news and sport network...
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Minted
Did "former-player power" do for Colin Murray as host of Match of the Day 2 ? The Mail suggests that pundits such as Alan Hansen (est BBC earnings £1m p.a.) had become increasingly unhappy that Colin was expressing footballing opinions, rather than providing easy questions to make them look good. rather than leading intelligent discussions about issues in the game.
I suspect there's more, and hope to return with some ratings figures when time allows. This season Match of the Day 2* is, counter-intuitively, on BBC1, and messrs Mosey, Cohen and Slater will have expected that move to the senior network to perform well, in core ratings as well as presenter approval.
Colin's sporting background is that of a fan - I think. This part of his entry on Wikipedia, I suspect, is not the entire truth...
Colin's passion for Radio came from his first career as a part-time member of the Fruit and Veg team in Sainsbury's at Forestside. After 3 weeks he left the job and began hustling 8 ball pool every Thursday night at Frames. It was at this venue were he famously came 9th in the 8 Ball Masters and from here he went on to become first reserve for the (SBBB) South Belfast Billiards Boys. Murray described his time with the SBBB as "a whirlwind of banter and an experience that I will never forget". To this day his cue remains in the club and in 2010 a statue was erected to honour his achievements, which was recently auctioned off for a staggering £13 to raise money for a vending machine at his old club.
*BBC sport, as a group, is reluctantly to change bad titles, even when they become totally meaningless, such as the 606 phone-in, on Radio 5 Live - nothing to do with the time or the phone number.
I suspect there's more, and hope to return with some ratings figures when time allows. This season Match of the Day 2* is, counter-intuitively, on BBC1, and messrs Mosey, Cohen and Slater will have expected that move to the senior network to perform well, in core ratings as well as presenter approval.
Colin's sporting background is that of a fan - I think. This part of his entry on Wikipedia, I suspect, is not the entire truth...
Colin's passion for Radio came from his first career as a part-time member of the Fruit and Veg team in Sainsbury's at Forestside. After 3 weeks he left the job and began hustling 8 ball pool every Thursday night at Frames. It was at this venue were he famously came 9th in the 8 Ball Masters and from here he went on to become first reserve for the (SBBB) South Belfast Billiards Boys. Murray described his time with the SBBB as "a whirlwind of banter and an experience that I will never forget". To this day his cue remains in the club and in 2010 a statue was erected to honour his achievements, which was recently auctioned off for a staggering £13 to raise money for a vending machine at his old club.
*BBC sport, as a group, is reluctantly to change bad titles, even when they become totally meaningless, such as the 606 phone-in, on Radio 5 Live - nothing to do with the time or the phone number.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Self effacing
There will be those much amused by the idea that William Woodard Self (51, PPE, Exeter College, Oxford) is the person to inject "fireworks" into the Radio 4 schedule, perhaps as a sort of writer-in-residence. He joined the rather vanilla team of contributors to A Point Of View (successor to Alistair Cooke's Letter from America) in September 2011. Since then he's graced the airwaves 18 times with his insights - and there have been no signs of sparklers waved from barricades in Stockwell, or elsewhere in the UK as a result. There was equally little whiff of cordite when Will succeeded Mark Lamarr on Shooting Stars in 2002, where he sat gurning until 2008.
Maybe it's not fireworks that are really wanted by Controller Radio 4, Gwyneth Williams (61, PPE, St Hugh's Oxford), who may have had a hand in bringing Self to A Point Of View, a year after her appointment to the network. But Rod Liddle, former Editor, Today, has a warning for Gwyneth, in his Spectator blog. He reminds her that when he hired Self to do think pieces for Today, he felt he had to be "balanced" by parallel essays from Frederick Forsyth.
It may be just the elixir of youth Gwyneth seeks for her schedules - after all, there is plenty of the gravitas of age elsewhere in the schedule. Laurie Taylor is 75, Lord Bragg is 73, as is Vincent Duggleby. John Humphrys is 69, and Jonathan Dimbleby is 68.
Personally, I think the writer-in-residence idea has some legs, and would enjoy hearing a full edition of You and Yours, scripted by Mr Self, at least once a week, and more if we could afford him.
Maybe it's not fireworks that are really wanted by Controller Radio 4, Gwyneth Williams (61, PPE, St Hugh's Oxford), who may have had a hand in bringing Self to A Point Of View, a year after her appointment to the network. But Rod Liddle, former Editor, Today, has a warning for Gwyneth, in his Spectator blog. He reminds her that when he hired Self to do think pieces for Today, he felt he had to be "balanced" by parallel essays from Frederick Forsyth.
It may be just the elixir of youth Gwyneth seeks for her schedules - after all, there is plenty of the gravitas of age elsewhere in the schedule. Laurie Taylor is 75, Lord Bragg is 73, as is Vincent Duggleby. John Humphrys is 69, and Jonathan Dimbleby is 68.
Personally, I think the writer-in-residence idea has some legs, and would enjoy hearing a full edition of You and Yours, scripted by Mr Self, at least once a week, and more if we could afford him.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Captain's Log
In the doldrums ahead of Lord Hall's formal arrival at the BBC, my sails have suddenly been filled to straining point by selected disclosures from The Diaries Of Lord Patten, Chairman of the BBC Trust, in response to an FOI query.
And I have to say, the weeks offered may not be typical, but they don't look like the diary of a hands-off light-touch regulator. I turned first to August 2012, and found an hour set aside for Controller BBC1 Danny Cohen; 45 minutes for Alan "I'm more involved in running the BBC than people think" Yentob; and an hour for the Radio Independents Group. There's a session with Mark Thompson - though the diary keeper spells his name wrong. There's a chat with Peter Bennett-Jones, chairman of Tiger Aspect and Comic Relief, a lunch with Trustee David Liddiment (in the Riding House Cafe); and a phone call with Stephen Lovegrove; one presumes it's the Lovegrove who is now Permanent Secretary at the Department of Energy and Climate Change - something has been redacted.
Back to January 18 2012, and Trustee Alison Hastings gets the good Lord up before 0930, for a visit to Radio 1's Chris Moyles, down the road at Yalding House. And it's a long day - finishing with a Trustee dinner at their favoured Durrants Hotel. On 24 January, there's a session with former Birt-ist policy wonk turned Labour DCMS Secretary James Purnell, (once rumoured to fancy the role of BBC Chair). A lunch with John Kampfner, then Chief Executive of the Index on Censorship, at Villandry comes later that week - as does a phone call with Lord Deben - John Selwyn Gummer (Is there a climate change thread here ?)
Then, joy of joys, we get the events around the appointment of George Entwistle in July. On interview day, there's a cryptic note: "Car bkd from home to interview venue. Please phone [S40] when 5 mins from destination so she can open garage door for you". 0900-1830 is booked out for grilling candidates, but spirits and energy levels are restored with another Trustee dinner at Durrants.
The next day media watcher Steve Hewlett gets the honour of a phone call at 1145, just ahead of the piazza photo-call with George Entwistle. At 1500, our chairman phones Colette Bowe, chairman of Ofcom. Then at 1700 there's a phone call "from Lord Birt" !
On 10th July, there's a 45 minute slot for Caroline Thomson - which oblique reports suggest did not go well.
And I have to say, the weeks offered may not be typical, but they don't look like the diary of a hands-off light-touch regulator. I turned first to August 2012, and found an hour set aside for Controller BBC1 Danny Cohen; 45 minutes for Alan "I'm more involved in running the BBC than people think" Yentob; and an hour for the Radio Independents Group. There's a session with Mark Thompson - though the diary keeper spells his name wrong. There's a chat with Peter Bennett-Jones, chairman of Tiger Aspect and Comic Relief, a lunch with Trustee David Liddiment (in the Riding House Cafe); and a phone call with Stephen Lovegrove; one presumes it's the Lovegrove who is now Permanent Secretary at the Department of Energy and Climate Change - something has been redacted.
Back to January 18 2012, and Trustee Alison Hastings gets the good Lord up before 0930, for a visit to Radio 1's Chris Moyles, down the road at Yalding House. And it's a long day - finishing with a Trustee dinner at their favoured Durrants Hotel. On 24 January, there's a session with former Birt-ist policy wonk turned Labour DCMS Secretary James Purnell, (once rumoured to fancy the role of BBC Chair). A lunch with John Kampfner, then Chief Executive of the Index on Censorship, at Villandry comes later that week - as does a phone call with Lord Deben - John Selwyn Gummer (Is there a climate change thread here ?)
Then, joy of joys, we get the events around the appointment of George Entwistle in July. On interview day, there's a cryptic note: "Car bkd from home to interview venue. Please phone [S40] when 5 mins from destination so she can open garage door for you". 0900-1830 is booked out for grilling candidates, but spirits and energy levels are restored with another Trustee dinner at Durrants.
The next day media watcher Steve Hewlett gets the honour of a phone call at 1145, just ahead of the piazza photo-call with George Entwistle. At 1500, our chairman phones Colette Bowe, chairman of Ofcom. Then at 1700 there's a phone call "from Lord Birt" !
On 10th July, there's a 45 minute slot for Caroline Thomson - which oblique reports suggest did not go well.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Love 2013
8.63m watched last night's 6.30pm regional/national news programmes on BBC1.
If the shows had run in 2012, they would have come in at 33 in the top 50 most-watched programmes, just ahead of Children in Need and the highest-audience edition of The Apprentice.
If the shows had run in 2012, they would have come in at 33 in the top 50 most-watched programmes, just ahead of Children in Need and the highest-audience edition of The Apprentice.
Live/work ?
The advert for candidates seeking to replace Adrian Van Klaveren as Controller Radio 5 Live is out.
Adrian got his fingers burned "helping out" in news in October last year; he was parachuted back to TV Centre to provide extra editorial cover, during the dual-running solution which flowed from the Newsnight/Savile hoo-ha. Days into his tenure, Newsnight wanted to run a film about a North Wales children's home - and a man who wrongly said he'd been abused by Lord McAlpine. Now Adrian is making his way as an executive producer in Vision, prepping for World War 1 anniversary coverage.
The last hoo-ha for Adrian was his home address, in Hampshire; he was anointed, by Jenny Abramsky, as Controller 5 Live ahead of the network's move to Salford, and on appointment said "I'm really excited about leading the station to its new home". Leading, it was later revealed, but not always there round-the-clock. In the last financial year, he was reimbursed over £15k for accommodation costs, on top of a pay package of £193k.
So does the new advert seek an explicit location commitment from a successor ? "Based in Salford" is as far as it goes. This may not be a problem; the acting Controller, Jonathan Wall, lives in Knutsford, and seems to be in pole position for the permanent gig.
Adrian got his fingers burned "helping out" in news in October last year; he was parachuted back to TV Centre to provide extra editorial cover, during the dual-running solution which flowed from the Newsnight/Savile hoo-ha. Days into his tenure, Newsnight wanted to run a film about a North Wales children's home - and a man who wrongly said he'd been abused by Lord McAlpine. Now Adrian is making his way as an executive producer in Vision, prepping for World War 1 anniversary coverage.
The last hoo-ha for Adrian was his home address, in Hampshire; he was anointed, by Jenny Abramsky, as Controller 5 Live ahead of the network's move to Salford, and on appointment said "I'm really excited about leading the station to its new home". Leading, it was later revealed, but not always there round-the-clock. In the last financial year, he was reimbursed over £15k for accommodation costs, on top of a pay package of £193k.
So does the new advert seek an explicit location commitment from a successor ? "Based in Salford" is as far as it goes. This may not be a problem; the acting Controller, Jonathan Wall, lives in Knutsford, and seems to be in pole position for the permanent gig.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Doing better than most
Some more nuggets shared on FOI site, What Do They Know ?
At 30 November 2012, 85.2% of BBC employees were on continuing or fixed term contracts with a total annual salary more than the UK national median figure, quoted at £21,788.
As at 30th November 2012 there were 360 individuals employed by the BBC on continuing or fixed term contracts whose total salary is greater than £100,000. (This does not include "on-air talent")
The number of individual freelancers or service companies who do not pay tax and NI at source on income from the BBC, receiving more than £100,000 in the year to 30 November 2012 was 43.
At 30 November 2012, 85.2% of BBC employees were on continuing or fixed term contracts with a total annual salary more than the UK national median figure, quoted at £21,788.
As at 30th November 2012 there were 360 individuals employed by the BBC on continuing or fixed term contracts whose total salary is greater than £100,000. (This does not include "on-air talent")
The number of individual freelancers or service companies who do not pay tax and NI at source on income from the BBC, receiving more than £100,000 in the year to 30 November 2012 was 43.
Budge up
Only the odd thousand or so still to go into the redeveloped BH, as the BBC World Channel eases in - here's a video showing how World Service operations fit into the picture.
Psycling news
I turn to the online Yorkshire Times, which surfaces first on Google for a map of the opening stage of the 2014 Tour De France - from Leeds to Harrogate, through the Yorkshire Dales. Voila, my wife's home town, Leyburn, is on the route. Sadly, it appears as "Leybrun" on this GEOATLAS map.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Corn flakes
As BBC Breakfast celebrates 30 years of early morning tv at the Corporation, the problems at ITV Daybreak seem intractable.
This week's figures so far to hand suggest little or no upward movement for Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones, launched as a pairing to turn things round in September 2012. In November, editor David Kermode was replaced by Karl Newton - but the stats now are essentially unmoved from four months ago..
Monday Breakfast 1.56m 35.9%
Daybreak 695,357 17.3%
Tuesday Breakfast 1.55m 36.2%
Daybreak 654,510 16.6%
Maybe ITV should look for more drama in its changes. TV-AM launched on February 1 1983, and, by April, Jonathan Aitken had sacked Angela Rippon and Anna Ford, and Greg Dyke had moved to nick Anne Diamond from BBC Nationwide, in time for a June re-launch. The TV-AM of Roland Rat was on the way...and in just 12 weeks, Greg built TV-AM's peak audience from 200,000 to 1.7 million. At the top, it hit 3 million...
This week's figures so far to hand suggest little or no upward movement for Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones, launched as a pairing to turn things round in September 2012. In November, editor David Kermode was replaced by Karl Newton - but the stats now are essentially unmoved from four months ago..
Monday Breakfast 1.56m 35.9%
Daybreak 695,357 17.3%
Tuesday Breakfast 1.55m 36.2%
Daybreak 654,510 16.6%
Maybe ITV should look for more drama in its changes. TV-AM launched on February 1 1983, and, by April, Jonathan Aitken had sacked Angela Rippon and Anna Ford, and Greg Dyke had moved to nick Anne Diamond from BBC Nationwide, in time for a June re-launch. The TV-AM of Roland Rat was on the way...and in just 12 weeks, Greg built TV-AM's peak audience from 200,000 to 1.7 million. At the top, it hit 3 million...
- Please try this excellent blog post by Martin Wainwright of The Guardian on his part in TV-AM's success...
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Taking
Stats on tablets (the computer kind) suggest a huge lift-off in the UK. 29% told a YouGov survey in December that they already had one; another 7% expected to get one by March 2013. BBC apps are the second most-downloaded. Found via Press Gazette.
The merry month of...
The expenses paid to BBC Trustees for the most recent six months have been published - and May 2012 was the busiest month for claims for entertainment and comestibles. Looking back, it was also the month that Ed Richards of Ofcom emerged as a candidate for Director General - and the month that the Daily Mail's Quentin Letts tipped George Entwistle, on the advice of a Cabinet Minister.
Alison Hastings entertained someone internal to dinner in Villandry, at £82.13 on 1 May. Diane Coyle had breakfast there with an internal contact, on 2 May, at £29.25. Further afield, on 14 May, Welsh Trustee Elan Closs Stephens lashed out £34.35 on an external contact at The Cross Foxes (a Snowdonia retreat); Scottish Governnor Bill Matthews entertained contacts at The Ferry Boat Inn (Ullapool, Falmouth, Felixstowe, ou quoi, Bill ?) to the tune of £145.90 on 21 May. Director of the Trust, Nicholas Kroll, claimed for nearly half of his 27 various drinks and snacks with contacts in the month of May.
In his only entertainment claim, Lord Patten may have thought "big job done" when he strolled down to Villandry for a £93.04 lunch with an external contact. It wasn't. The date - 17th September, day one of George Entwistle's brief tenure as DG.
In his only entertainment claim, Lord Patten may have thought "big job done" when he strolled down to Villandry for a £93.04 lunch with an external contact. It wasn't. The date - 17th September, day one of George Entwistle's brief tenure as DG.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Squibs
We haven't heard much recently from Gwyneth Williams, Controller Radio 4 - and when she did make a New Year appearance, about her unlikely wish to "throw fireworks" into her schedule, the hacks of the Guardian turned her back to the issue of female presenters.
"My feeling very much is I would love to see more women presenting on the Today programme – I have made that very clear. But we do have a fantastically smart team at the top of their game at the moment on the Today programme, so you know, what we need to do is in due course we will have another woman presenter."
Our hacks persisted: Who would fill Robin Lustig's World Tonight shifts on a permanent basis ? "We don't have a decision yet. To be honest colleagues in news have been deeply distracted. We are going a bit slow."
Conspiracy theorists might note that Ritula Shah shared the bulk of World Tonight presentation with Robin Lustig; so another bloke wouldn't make things worse. What, say, about a former WT presenter with wide experience as a foreign correspondent ? Like Justin Webb ? Thus creating space on a less-evenly gender-balanced team ?
Efficiency theorists might note the new proximity of World Tonight studios with sister shows on the World Service, like Newshour. TV hosts Huw Edwards and George Alagiah are already knocking out more than one spell on screen a day - is there some rotation room in new shift patterns for radio at new Broadcasting House ?
"My feeling very much is I would love to see more women presenting on the Today programme – I have made that very clear. But we do have a fantastically smart team at the top of their game at the moment on the Today programme, so you know, what we need to do is in due course we will have another woman presenter."
Our hacks persisted: Who would fill Robin Lustig's World Tonight shifts on a permanent basis ? "We don't have a decision yet. To be honest colleagues in news have been deeply distracted. We are going a bit slow."
Conspiracy theorists might note that Ritula Shah shared the bulk of World Tonight presentation with Robin Lustig; so another bloke wouldn't make things worse. What, say, about a former WT presenter with wide experience as a foreign correspondent ? Like Justin Webb ? Thus creating space on a less-evenly gender-balanced team ?
Efficiency theorists might note the new proximity of World Tonight studios with sister shows on the World Service, like Newshour. TV hosts Huw Edwards and George Alagiah are already knocking out more than one spell on screen a day - is there some rotation room in new shift patterns for radio at new Broadcasting House ?
Monday, January 14, 2013
Living the story
"State of the art" is, I think, a meaningless phrase that journalists should be reluctant to use - and more reluctant to repeat. And our business hero, Aaron (left) remains Aaron, surrounded by "art" old or new.
Otherwise, a triumph. If you're pressed for time, Aaron does Ron Burgundy at 2.15 on the clock.
Cake time
Congratulations to the BBC World news team, who have finally made the dangerous, 4.8 mile transition from Studio N8 in Television Centre, to Studio B in Broadcasting House. According to Twitter, it boasts "sexy remixed music", and a new graphics package.
Of course, we can't see it in the UK. Even online, which is odd, but apparently deliberate. Will it stay that way in 2014, when the licence fee formally becomes the safety net for BBC Global News ?
There is, apparently, a cake to mark today's event. And a nice story about George Alagiah on his way in to present the midday launch show.
Of course, we can't see it in the UK. Even online, which is odd, but apparently deliberate. Will it stay that way in 2014, when the licence fee formally becomes the safety net for BBC Global News ?
Roker Park
The price of misplaced honesty is parody, it seems. NBC weatherman Al Roker has had gastric bypass surgery, and, in a tv interview about his health and keeping fit, described an uncomfortable loss-of-control moment at the White House.
Here's some of the interview, set to music.
Here's some of the interview, set to music.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
It's only words
I was thinking of joining a book club for the New Year, but it may have to wait til 2014. Nick Pollard promised to publish "annexes" to his report on what went wrong at Newsnight over Savile after the year had turned - and they are rumoured to be on their way. The transcripts of his interviews, even with redactions, are likely to make Les Miserables (book, musical or film version) look as easy to digest as an episode of In The Night Garden.
The inquiry assembled 17 lever arch files of documents, and interviewed 19 witnesses, some of them for as long as eight hours, and three of them twice.
The inquiry assembled 17 lever arch files of documents, and interviewed 19 witnesses, some of them for as long as eight hours, and three of them twice.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Nuisnight vacancy
"After a period of intense external and internal scruitiny and challenge Newsnight is looking for a tough, innovative and creative individual with sound editorial judgement to be the next editor" - and you've got until February 8th to apply. Just a pity that they didn't scrutinise the advert with, say, a spell-checker.
In and out
The BBC has published George Entwistle's contract of employment as Director-General (16 pages, including annexes) - and his compromise agreement to end the contract, in response to an FOI query.
I was amused to read that, while the contract is specific about holidays - 25 days plus Corporation and Bank Holidays - George could choose his hours. As apparently can anyone on an executive contract.
Fixed hours are not part of the executive contract. Essentially, you must work the hours necessary to properly perform your duties, and, as such, the hours you work are your responsibility.
Experts in BBC personnel practice will be interested to see that while his "start" date in the job is clear - "17th September 2012", his "continuous employment date" has been redacted. We can't have been paying two DGs at the same time, can we ?
No obvious surprises for the MPs on the Public Accounts Committee in the termination - except, perhaps, that George and his family continue to get private health cover until November 2013. I wonder if some cheeky monkey has already written in for a sight of Lord Hall's contract ?
I was amused to read that, while the contract is specific about holidays - 25 days plus Corporation and Bank Holidays - George could choose his hours. As apparently can anyone on an executive contract.
Fixed hours are not part of the executive contract. Essentially, you must work the hours necessary to properly perform your duties, and, as such, the hours you work are your responsibility.
Experts in BBC personnel practice will be interested to see that while his "start" date in the job is clear - "17th September 2012", his "continuous employment date" has been redacted. We can't have been paying two DGs at the same time, can we ?
No obvious surprises for the MPs on the Public Accounts Committee in the termination - except, perhaps, that George and his family continue to get private health cover until November 2013. I wonder if some cheeky monkey has already written in for a sight of Lord Hall's contract ?
Friday, January 11, 2013
News channels
Barb, the tv audience measurement group, is publishing much more detailed viewing figures for smaller channels.
Here's a league table of news channels, ranked by average daily audience, for December 2012.
BBC News 4,849,000
Sky News 2,617,000
Al Jazeera English 260,000
ARY News 178,000
Aaj Tak 142,000
Russia Today 100,000
Euronews 72,000
Fox News 58,000
PS: How hard would it be to report BBC Alba figures ?
Here's a league table of news channels, ranked by average daily audience, for December 2012.
BBC News 4,849,000
Sky News 2,617,000
Al Jazeera English 260,000
ARY News 178,000
Aaj Tak 142,000
Russia Today 100,000
Euronews 72,000
Fox News 58,000
PS: How hard would it be to report BBC Alba figures ?
Explaining
Whilst the scale of Savile's activity is truly ghastly, the BBC and Dame Janet Smith will presumably be honing in on the 33 cases identified so far which involved "television or radio studios", [Giving Victims A Voice, 7.8] spanning 1965 to 2006. One hopes, sadly, offences in a motor-caravan, however close to TVC or BH, are beyond that list. 33 explanations of how things went unnoticed except by a victim are enough to be going on with...
Oorsels
The Jezzer Hunt Local TV Legacy was, I thought, as much about opening up a market to new entrants, as much as combatting a perceived market failure by ITV and others. So the Glasgow and Edinburgh franchises have gone to - STV !
They will argue that these new services are innovative partnerships, with Glasgow Caledonian University and Edinburgh Napier University. Humph.
They will argue that these new services are innovative partnerships, with Glasgow Caledonian University and Edinburgh Napier University. Humph.
Buzz
Is there something rather apposite in the list of forthcoming productions left behind by Lord (Tony) Hall of Birkenhead at the Royal Opera House, as he packs his prints at Bow Street and heads back to the BBC ?
If the nothing else, the titles - "The Importance of Being Earnest", "The Exterminating Angel" and a new work based in Iain Banks' novel "The Wasp Factory" - all seem to have resonances for Tone's new role as Director General......
If the nothing else, the titles - "The Importance of Being Earnest", "The Exterminating Angel" and a new work based in Iain Banks' novel "The Wasp Factory" - all seem to have resonances for Tone's new role as Director General......
Thursday, January 10, 2013
News product
There's an interesting day ahead for BBC News Online. They're inviting people to a "Connected Studio" to kick around ideas for "personalisation" of the news offering, on January 21, at the redeveloped Broadcasting House.
"Personalisation" usually means you see the sort of news you're interested in; but the BBC is clear that there will always be a core of stories that everyone will get. The trouble with "personalisation" is that it's awfully close to the retail ambition of "targetting", and people get irritated when they're chased by advertisers across the internet, because they looked at an estate agent's site, or a recipe page, or a finance company.
So this element of the brief for the day, about "sites we liked" is worrying (and annoying for the use of 'surface' as a transitive verb).
Examples of other brands using personalisation to good effect:
Zite – encourages users to give feedback on the stories they’ve read, so it can surface more relevant content in the future.
Amazon – gives recommendations such as ‘Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought’.
ASOS – has dynamic advertising campaigns which serve adverts related to content the user has searched for previously.
Littlewoods – their Christmas site allows users to find gifts according to information given about a recipient’s personality.
Do you want to share your personality with BBC News ?
"Personalisation" usually means you see the sort of news you're interested in; but the BBC is clear that there will always be a core of stories that everyone will get. The trouble with "personalisation" is that it's awfully close to the retail ambition of "targetting", and people get irritated when they're chased by advertisers across the internet, because they looked at an estate agent's site, or a recipe page, or a finance company.
So this element of the brief for the day, about "sites we liked" is worrying (and annoying for the use of 'surface' as a transitive verb).
Examples of other brands using personalisation to good effect:
Zite – encourages users to give feedback on the stories they’ve read, so it can surface more relevant content in the future.
Amazon – gives recommendations such as ‘Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought’.
ASOS – has dynamic advertising campaigns which serve adverts related to content the user has searched for previously.
Littlewoods – their Christmas site allows users to find gifts according to information given about a recipient’s personality.
Do you want to share your personality with BBC News ?
Spread the word
I'm guessing Piers Morgan more than doubled his regular tv audience last night, with an appearance on Newsnight. The bruised war horse (Newsnight) is bumping along at between 600k and 900k UK viewers a night; Piers' most recent peak on CNN in the USA was 225k (amongst 24 to 55 year-olds).
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Vesuvius
Former Channel 4 betting pundit John McCririck is seeking £3m in damages for alleged age discrimination over the decision to drop him from their tv racing team last year. McCririck says he was sacked from Channel 4 Racing in October "without any consultation or cogent explanation", and the claim is against both Channel 4 and IMG Sports Media, which took over production of racing coverage from the start of 2013.
This may well lead to another uncomfortable tribunal appearance for Jay Hunt. She was already on her way to C4 when Miriam O'Reilly brought her case against the BBC back in November 2010 - but still had to give evidence over two days about how and why the Countryfile presentation team was changed, when she was Controller of BBC1.
John has gone for a no-win, no-fee deal with solicitor Stephen Beverley, who knows his way round tribunals. He also knows his way round the boxing ring. He's Chairman of the Appeal and Disciplinary Committee of the World Boxing Council, and Honorary Solicitor to the Schools Amateur Boxing Association.
This may well lead to another uncomfortable tribunal appearance for Jay Hunt. She was already on her way to C4 when Miriam O'Reilly brought her case against the BBC back in November 2010 - but still had to give evidence over two days about how and why the Countryfile presentation team was changed, when she was Controller of BBC1.
John has gone for a no-win, no-fee deal with solicitor Stephen Beverley, who knows his way round tribunals. He also knows his way round the boxing ring. He's Chairman of the Appeal and Disciplinary Committee of the World Boxing Council, and Honorary Solicitor to the Schools Amateur Boxing Association.
Christmas present ?
Mail diarist Richard Kay reckons quondam Controller Radio Five Live Adrian Van Klaveren has been given a key role in running programmes being planned to mark the centenary of the start of World War I next year.
New media triangulation suggests this may have substance - Adrian's Facebook page shows he "likes" the Facebook Page for First World War 100th Anniversary - a tick given on Christmas Eve. Job security until at least August 2014...
New media triangulation suggests this may have substance - Adrian's Facebook page shows he "likes" the Facebook Page for First World War 100th Anniversary - a tick given on Christmas Eve. Job security until at least August 2014...
Question time
There WAS an interview for the DG job - but the minutes of the event, just published by the BBC Trust, are marvellously opaque about who was interviewing whom.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Coming together
That's all technical stuff that can be sorted - here's the opening proper, to give you a flavour of the style and content.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Stat fest
The 2012 figures for US cable news channels are in. In primetime ratings for all adults, Fox News is up to an average 2.04 million, from 1.86m in 2011; MSNBC is up from an average 775k in 2011 to 905k in 2012; and CNN is down, from an average 689k, to 677k.
Piers Morgan can take consolation now that he stands at Number 3 in the White House Petitions Most Popular Ranking. 104,000 have signed up to the call for his deportation, puttting him ahead of the 82,901 who want the federal ban on marijuana lifted. He stands behind those who want secession for Texas (124,727) and the chart-topping petition for legal recognition of the Westboro Baptist Church as a "hate group" (307,877).
Piers Morgan can take consolation now that he stands at Number 3 in the White House Petitions Most Popular Ranking. 104,000 have signed up to the call for his deportation, puttting him ahead of the 82,901 who want the federal ban on marijuana lifted. He stands behind those who want secession for Texas (124,727) and the chart-topping petition for legal recognition of the Westboro Baptist Church as a "hate group" (307,877).
- The estimated $500m paid by Al Jazeera for Current TV wasn't for the existing audiences. Current ended 2012 with average prime time ratings of 41,000 - just above Sunderland's average gate this season. Current TV's contract with Time Warner gives it access to 30 million homes. BBC World News' deal with Time Warner provides access to 25 million homes.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Portents
I may be a little late, but I've just found this promo for the move of BBC World News to Broadcasting House, now just nine days away.
Niche
In 2011 Chris Moyles and "Comedy" Dave Vitty were radio heroes - they hosted a record breaking 52-hour-long broadcast on Radio 1, raising £2.4 million for Comic Relief. Breakfast audiences were close to eight million.
Now Dave has embarked on a solo role as host of BBC Three Counties Saturday Breakfast show. The total weekly reach for the station stands around 146,000 - I've have no idea what the show's individual figures might be. Chris Moyles' current tv vehicle, The Love Machine, on Sky, recorded an audience of under 112,000 for its Christmas special on 21st December.
Now Dave has embarked on a solo role as host of BBC Three Counties Saturday Breakfast show. The total weekly reach for the station stands around 146,000 - I've have no idea what the show's individual figures might be. Chris Moyles' current tv vehicle, The Love Machine, on Sky, recorded an audience of under 112,000 for its Christmas special on 21st December.
Meeting of (acting) minds
The minutes are out of the BBC Executive's November meeting - and it's now clear that George Entwistle never made it that far ! It was held, rather chaotically, on 12 November - two days after Lord Patten agreed to George's terms for his resignation as Director General.
Three and a half hours of fun and frolics started at midday. Acting Director General Tim Davie was delayed by media interviews (which may seem odd, seeing his previous urge to walk out of them), and only arrived for the start of item 6; outgoing Senior Non-Executive Director Marcus Agius started the meeting as chair. Acting Director of Vision Roger Mosey and Acting Director of Audio and Music Graham Ellis were in place, but Acting Director of News Fran Unsworth and the Director General's Chief of Staff Jessica Cecil were missing. Non-executive director Mike Lynch, former boss of Autonomy, left after item 8, and the meeting broke for a period to discuss the MacQuarrie report on the Newsnight/Lord MacAlpine mess. It resumed with valedictories for departing Worldwide CEO John Smith and Marcus Agius.
The Entwistle legacy ? The Board also talked briefly about the workplan that George Entwistle had launched, noting that this was continuing to progress but that it would inevitably be reviewed in light of the new Director-General appointment.
One to watch: The Digital Media Initiative, aka DMI. Chief Financial Officer Zarin Patel noted that it had currently paused. This suggests it may not have completed on time during the Summer of 2011, as predicted to the NAO.
Three and a half hours of fun and frolics started at midday. Acting Director General Tim Davie was delayed by media interviews (which may seem odd, seeing his previous urge to walk out of them), and only arrived for the start of item 6; outgoing Senior Non-Executive Director Marcus Agius started the meeting as chair. Acting Director of Vision Roger Mosey and Acting Director of Audio and Music Graham Ellis were in place, but Acting Director of News Fran Unsworth and the Director General's Chief of Staff Jessica Cecil were missing. Non-executive director Mike Lynch, former boss of Autonomy, left after item 8, and the meeting broke for a period to discuss the MacQuarrie report on the Newsnight/Lord MacAlpine mess. It resumed with valedictories for departing Worldwide CEO John Smith and Marcus Agius.
The Entwistle legacy ? The Board also talked briefly about the workplan that George Entwistle had launched, noting that this was continuing to progress but that it would inevitably be reviewed in light of the new Director-General appointment.
One to watch: The Digital Media Initiative, aka DMI. Chief Financial Officer Zarin Patel noted that it had currently paused. This suggests it may not have completed on time during the Summer of 2011, as predicted to the NAO.
Heroic
Generational change in venerated organisations can be bumpy. The deities of Radio 4 newsreading have moved on. Bryan "Zeus" Perkins is long gone; Charlotte "Hera" Green and Peter "Poseidon" Donaldson have now hung up their bakelite headphones and headed to Mount Olympus. Alice "Hestia" Arnold has returned to the hearth. Harriet "Demeter" Cass will soon be tending the Olympian Fields.
From the Stygian depths of the new BBC Newsroom (a.k.a Dr Evil's Volcano News Lair) a new breed of younger would-be heroes are tangling with our language.
A sage and valued correspondent (probably castable as Agamemnon) says he's noticed some of them inventing new, but nonetheless interesting entities.
Best over the last two days have been the Nobel Police Prize ("Now then, that's enough from you, sir") and the Royal College of Positions (watch out for those members!).
From the Stygian depths of the new BBC Newsroom (a.k.a Dr Evil's Volcano News Lair) a new breed of younger would-be heroes are tangling with our language.
A sage and valued correspondent (probably castable as Agamemnon) says he's noticed some of them inventing new, but nonetheless interesting entities.
Best over the last two days have been the Nobel Police Prize ("Now then, that's enough from you, sir") and the Royal College of Positions (watch out for those members!).
Friday, January 4, 2013
Nugget
The cost, excluding VAT, of all wine purchased from the BBC’s preferred supplier during the period 01/01/2012-01/12/2012 was £29,242. We can confirm that there was no spend on champagne.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
The Salford difference
Salford leads the way, managerially at least, for the BBC. Many at Auntie are familiar with the "holiday camp entertainer" function which, under Greg Dyke, clustered within the organisation under the title "Internal Communications". Now, it seems to have morphed, at MediacityUK, into "Staff Engagement".
The team are currently looking to hire, and this is from the job description. The writer was clearly on some HR buzz word challenge, and may have won.
The BBC North Staff Engagement team create and deliver opportunities for staff to help develop their careers, their creative lives and their social experiences, whist working at BBC North. By working with all departments the Engagement team will help develop an environment where staff engage and participate willingly in the myriad of opportunities available on site. An environment where experimentation, innovation and change is embraced and where we bring the values and vision of BBC North to life.
The team are currently looking to hire, and this is from the job description. The writer was clearly on some HR buzz word challenge, and may have won.
The BBC North Staff Engagement team create and deliver opportunities for staff to help develop their careers, their creative lives and their social experiences, whist working at BBC North. By working with all departments the Engagement team will help develop an environment where staff engage and participate willingly in the myriad of opportunities available on site. An environment where experimentation, innovation and change is embraced and where we bring the values and vision of BBC North to life.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Conked
I am indebted to the Bath Chronicle for an insight into Lord Patten's previous life. In their Boxing Day edition, they have made "awards" for 2012, including this...
Most Sheepish Look – Never have I seen our former MP Lord Patten look so rattled, caught in the BBC storm amid bungling executives. I bet he wished he was back in the Morris Minor driving home to Conkwell.
Most Sheepish Look – Never have I seen our former MP Lord Patten look so rattled, caught in the BBC storm amid bungling executives. I bet he wished he was back in the Morris Minor driving home to Conkwell.
Welsh
Meanwhile, BBC Cymru is in dispute with the Welsh "pop" industry over royalties, and apparently is playing more classical music and old royalty-free stuff until a deal is reach. Here's a sample from this morning's Breakfast - how can you tell if it's old or new ?
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Light and local
BBC Radio Berkshire unveil Mike Read as a regular daily presenter this week - here's his Twitter puff.
Mike's politics may make this interesting. He joined UKIP this year.
Mike's politics may make this interesting. He joined UKIP this year.
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