I reckon Broadcasting House is sited on this bit of open land that looks a bit like a ditch.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Wide open spaces
Here's some fun for Londoners and map lovers: a site that has taken John Rocque's 1746 map of the capital and turned it into a Google map (though the streetview function gives you today's images).
I reckon Broadcasting House is sited on this bit of open land that looks a bit like a ditch.
I reckon Broadcasting House is sited on this bit of open land that looks a bit like a ditch.
Lettuce
Sometimes you need the strong words and help of outsiders to change things. Equality consultant Jean Farrell was on a panel at the BBC yesterday headlined entitled "The Road to 50% Women in Leadership", and many of the participants had been part of her Women's Development Initiative 15 years ago.
'In my view you can't be a good leader unless you can show real competence around diversity and inclusion, and those who don't should pay the price. There should be no difference between failing to deliver on budget and failing to meet diversity targets. But it's all flopsy bunny when it comes to diversity.'
Amanda Rice, Head of Diversity, also offered a pointed remark "Digital and Strategy is an incredibly important division in terms of shaping the BBC, but all the people at the top of that division are male". Not quite true: James Purnell is Director of Digital & Strategy, and he has one woman on his board - Natasha Adams from HR. Nonetheless, let's see what happens to Jim's £295k salary next year.
Amanda Rice, Head of Diversity, also offered a pointed remark "Digital and Strategy is an incredibly important division in terms of shaping the BBC, but all the people at the top of that division are male". Not quite true: James Purnell is Director of Digital & Strategy, and he has one woman on his board - Natasha Adams from HR. Nonetheless, let's see what happens to Jim's £295k salary next year.
- Today is HR Director Lucy Adams' last day in the office - she's on leave till the end of the financial year. She announced her decision to leave six months ago, and there's no sign yet of a replacement. Who's in charge of recruitment, eh ?
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Lucky or what ?
We haven't done music for a bit, but I wonder if Pharrell, Nile and Daft Punk might have ever heard this one, from Vanessa Da Mata and Ben Harper in 2009 ?
Kind words
BBC Worldwide has just finished its annual showcase in Liverpool; it's an opportunity to see what they're up to, but as ever, I find the language of commissioners opaque. Here's part of the Broadcast report on the event, covering remarks by Chief Content Officer Helen Jackson. She matters, because she pumps money (up to £300m a year) into co-commissions that, more often than not, end up on BBC screens in the UK.
“I do want to stay focused on British talent,” said Jackson. “We’re still looking at emerging talent.”
BBCW is calling for indies to bring it more male-skewing Top Gear-esque series for BBC Brit, lighter science shows for BBC Earth, and new styles of drama to mix with its crime franchises.
“We’re looking for kinder drama, more relationship drama, so we can have a mixed offering,” says Jackson. “We’re also looking for more serialised drama as there’s appetite for shows that have a narrative arc and are less episodic.”
Clear ?
“I do want to stay focused on British talent,” said Jackson. “We’re still looking at emerging talent.”
BBCW is calling for indies to bring it more male-skewing Top Gear-esque series for BBC Brit, lighter science shows for BBC Earth, and new styles of drama to mix with its crime franchises.
“We’re looking for kinder drama, more relationship drama, so we can have a mixed offering,” says Jackson. “We’re also looking for more serialised drama as there’s appetite for shows that have a narrative arc and are less episodic.”
Clear ?
Clear for Clare
Should BBC DG Tony Hall ever get in a toe-to-toe with Government, he will be reassured by the presence of ring-savvy former Civil Servant Clare Sumner CBE at his side. Clare was at the heart of No 10 in the biggest ever stand-off between the BBC and the Prime Minister's Office, when Alastair Campbell took on the reporting of Andrew Gilligan in a grim battle that eventually led to the death of Dr David Kelly, and the ditching of DG Greg Dyke.
Clare, most recently Executive Director of Civil Service Reform in the Cabinet Office (working alongside Katherine "Taste the Strawberry" Kerswell), fills the gap left by Jessica Cecil as "Chief of Staff" - the exact title may now be less military than that, but you get the picture. New colleagues at Broadcasting House describe her as firm, but a Good Thing.
Clare took a course in journalism at City University, after graduating from Downing College, Cambridge, and joined the Civil Service, initially as a junior press officer. She prepared briefs for Jack Straw when he was made Home Secretary under Tony Blair; he was impressed, and promoted her to Private Secretary. She was his eyes and ears on the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry - and then moved to be a Private Secretary in Number 10.
There, she made news as the organiser of Blair's file for Prime Minister's Question Time. A leaked all-points memo from 2000 reads 'I have been revisiting the standard format for the briefings for PM's Questions to see whether it can be further enhanced and improved. You will not be surprised to know that in my view it can. The PM has specifically asked for all briefings provided to (correspond to) the attached format from Monday, May 15. If the PM does not have good, accurate and well-considered briefing to use it reflects badly on departments and often leads to media interest and further work.'' A second note followed: "On elephant traps you should advise the PM what to say, but also what not to say". (As if she did not have enough to do, Clare spent part of her time in 2000 as a non-executive director of the Bedford Hospital NHS Trust.)
Robin Cook first stood in for Blair at PMQs in June 2002 and recalls it thus in his memoir: "Clare Sumner is my transmission mechanism to the Government machine. This is a heavy burden to be thrust upon a twenty-nine-year-old but there are many up and down Whitehall who have come to regret not treating her with the respect due to a fifty-nine-year-old Permanent Secretary. As a result, briefings of astonishing clarity, incision and accuracy appear within fifteen minutes at her command".
More headlines for Clare came in that very same month, when she telephoned Black Rod to discuss arrangements for the Queen Mother's funeral. This brought (hotly-denied) accusations that Tony Blair was trying to "muscle in" on the event.
The Hutton Inquiry revealed that Clare was copied in to a range of significant emails about various Iraq dossiers, and more when the No 10 machine was after Gilligan's source. Also appearing in these email chains: Godric Smith, CBE, currently on contract to Tony Hall, BBC DG, for his PR thinking.
Clare, most recently Executive Director of Civil Service Reform in the Cabinet Office (working alongside Katherine "Taste the Strawberry" Kerswell), fills the gap left by Jessica Cecil as "Chief of Staff" - the exact title may now be less military than that, but you get the picture. New colleagues at Broadcasting House describe her as firm, but a Good Thing.
Clare took a course in journalism at City University, after graduating from Downing College, Cambridge, and joined the Civil Service, initially as a junior press officer. She prepared briefs for Jack Straw when he was made Home Secretary under Tony Blair; he was impressed, and promoted her to Private Secretary. She was his eyes and ears on the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry - and then moved to be a Private Secretary in Number 10.
There, she made news as the organiser of Blair's file for Prime Minister's Question Time. A leaked all-points memo from 2000 reads 'I have been revisiting the standard format for the briefings for PM's Questions to see whether it can be further enhanced and improved. You will not be surprised to know that in my view it can. The PM has specifically asked for all briefings provided to (correspond to) the attached format from Monday, May 15. If the PM does not have good, accurate and well-considered briefing to use it reflects badly on departments and often leads to media interest and further work.'' A second note followed: "On elephant traps you should advise the PM what to say, but also what not to say". (As if she did not have enough to do, Clare spent part of her time in 2000 as a non-executive director of the Bedford Hospital NHS Trust.)
Robin Cook first stood in for Blair at PMQs in June 2002 and recalls it thus in his memoir: "Clare Sumner is my transmission mechanism to the Government machine. This is a heavy burden to be thrust upon a twenty-nine-year-old but there are many up and down Whitehall who have come to regret not treating her with the respect due to a fifty-nine-year-old Permanent Secretary. As a result, briefings of astonishing clarity, incision and accuracy appear within fifteen minutes at her command".
More headlines for Clare came in that very same month, when she telephoned Black Rod to discuss arrangements for the Queen Mother's funeral. This brought (hotly-denied) accusations that Tony Blair was trying to "muscle in" on the event.
The Hutton Inquiry revealed that Clare was copied in to a range of significant emails about various Iraq dossiers, and more when the No 10 machine was after Gilligan's source. Also appearing in these email chains: Godric Smith, CBE, currently on contract to Tony Hall, BBC DG, for his PR thinking.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Gently amusing
Congratulations to Myfanwy Z Moore, back at the BBC as Head of Comedy, after a sojourn at ITV which brought forth Plebs and Vicious, and regurgitated Birds of a Feather.
She succeeds Mark Freeland, who's appointed her to this new role. She was previously Editor of New Comedy at the BBC - when partner Mobashir Dar, now an independent producer, was Head of New Comedy.
Scorpio with Leo rising and many planets in Libra, Myfanway studied drama at Bristol University, and was part of a comedy night entitled "David Icke and the Orphans of Jesus", alongside David Walliams, Dominik Diamond, Barnaby Power and Jason Bradbury. Myfanwy brought Walliams and Matt Lucas to tv screens for the Paramount Comedy Channel, as Gareth Peas and Danny Mash in Spoofovision, and went on to produce the tv version of Little Britain.
Dominik Diamond is now a morning radio host in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Barnaby Power still mixes comedy sketches and acting as a career. Jason Bradbury hosted the much-missed "Don't Scare The Hare", and, despite that, can still can be seen on C5's Gadget Show.
Walliams offers this review of Myfanwy's student days in his memoir Camp David: "Myf had a very likeable on-stage persona, and was gently amusing as a stand-up, with material like a humorous column you might read in the Guardian".
She succeeds Mark Freeland, who's appointed her to this new role. She was previously Editor of New Comedy at the BBC - when partner Mobashir Dar, now an independent producer, was Head of New Comedy.
Scorpio with Leo rising and many planets in Libra, Myfanway studied drama at Bristol University, and was part of a comedy night entitled "David Icke and the Orphans of Jesus", alongside David Walliams, Dominik Diamond, Barnaby Power and Jason Bradbury. Myfanwy brought Walliams and Matt Lucas to tv screens for the Paramount Comedy Channel, as Gareth Peas and Danny Mash in Spoofovision, and went on to produce the tv version of Little Britain.
Dominik Diamond is now a morning radio host in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Barnaby Power still mixes comedy sketches and acting as a career. Jason Bradbury hosted the much-missed "Don't Scare The Hare", and, despite that, can still can be seen on C5's Gadget Show.
Walliams offers this review of Myfanwy's student days in his memoir Camp David: "Myf had a very likeable on-stage persona, and was gently amusing as a stand-up, with material like a humorous column you might read in the Guardian".
Another suitcase...
Oi, you students. Tony Hall wants you to pay a full licence-fee if you use the iPlayer. (The UK student population is around 2.3m).
Apart from that, the BBC's DG was passionate about value, efficiency and the licence fee, in his much-heralded speech to the Oxford Media Convention. It started with, one suspects, the help of James "Breezeblock" Purnell's musical expertise, as learned delegates choogled along to Naughty Boy's 2013 Number 8 hit, Lifted, accompanying a highlights video. I noticed rather a lot of BBC2 logos, but none for BBC4. Thence, via a bit of Boswell, Tone went on to say the BBC should continue as it is because it is very good, and will get even better. With 16 uses of 'value', 7 of 'quality', 5 of 'proud', and 4 each of 'efficiency' and 'amazing'.
I have readers who will be amused by his line about dramatic savings already made. "We took out an entire layer of management in radio production – 20 executive producers". Who noticed they weren't doing anything useful, and when ? I'm pretty certain that, even now, the output producers don't feel under-managed...
Next month, we will get news of Son of iPlayer (MiPlayer ?) and how an extra of £100m cuts p.a. will be made in a three-year budget to take the BBC to Charter Renewal time.
Online dialogue
I love a bit of plain speaking in the whacky world of new media.
BBC News Labs, a favourite project of James Harding, wants to find ways of automatically exploiting its ever-increasing archive (so soon after DMI ?). They've launched a programme called NewsVANE (better read than said), and in 2014 they want to answer the following techie question...
How might we use combinations of our data sources to generate scalable relevance tools, so that we can promote the best connections across millions of content items & topics?
The first commenter responds....
Isn't the correct solution to this problem "make the BBC smaller", and not "create a computer system to try to find an audience for the huge amounts of BBC output that nobody reads, watches or listens to?"
My preferred solution ? Top-slice some of News Labs funding and employ an intelligent researcher to add a few archive links to the main online news stories of the day.
BBC News Labs, a favourite project of James Harding, wants to find ways of automatically exploiting its ever-increasing archive (so soon after DMI ?). They've launched a programme called NewsVANE (better read than said), and in 2014 they want to answer the following techie question...
How might we use combinations of our data sources to generate scalable relevance tools, so that we can promote the best connections across millions of content items & topics?
The first commenter responds....
Isn't the correct solution to this problem "make the BBC smaller", and not "create a computer system to try to find an audience for the huge amounts of BBC output that nobody reads, watches or listens to?"
My preferred solution ? Top-slice some of News Labs funding and employ an intelligent researcher to add a few archive links to the main online news stories of the day.
Going down
Further to Media Monkey's revelation that BBC News boss James Harding is moving his office to the ground floor of Broadcasting House, there is consternation amongst the troops, architects and middle management.
First the troops - no news yet on where the displaced will be resettled; indeed Media Monkey's item came out of the blue for some involved in the dogged, relentless process known as Home Newsgathering Planning.
The architects are confronted with the problems of building office space in a double-height open plan area. Will it be an open glass box ? A box with a lid on ? A pretend lift shaft (see red box, left) ? I'll let you know - or you can take a look yourself with a stroll along Hallam Street.
This wish to be in the middle of things was last expressed by Mark Byford, until wiser heads prevailed. Tony Hall, when he was Director of News at Television Centre, was quite happy with a suite of offices constructed out of pre-fabricated metal panels stuck on a third floor roof. It looked like a punishment block from Bridge on the River Kwai from the outside, but inside, the space for Tone and his management team was generous, with sylvan views of Hammersmith Park. Its formal internal postal address was The Periphery.
So why, on a day when Tony tells the world there are more difficult cuts to come, should middle management be uncomfortable about Harding the Hack's move ? Well, it puts him closer to the journalists than a whole layer of people whose principal daily function is to communicate the Great Man's thinking to the workers and then return to upper floors. And, inside the BBC, it can often go wrong when the workers talk straight to the bosses. I offer you Caroline Hawley tipping Mark Thompson off about events at Newsnight.
First the troops - no news yet on where the displaced will be resettled; indeed Media Monkey's item came out of the blue for some involved in the dogged, relentless process known as Home Newsgathering Planning.
 |
| Newsroom before people made it untidy |
This wish to be in the middle of things was last expressed by Mark Byford, until wiser heads prevailed. Tony Hall, when he was Director of News at Television Centre, was quite happy with a suite of offices constructed out of pre-fabricated metal panels stuck on a third floor roof. It looked like a punishment block from Bridge on the River Kwai from the outside, but inside, the space for Tone and his management team was generous, with sylvan views of Hammersmith Park. Its formal internal postal address was The Periphery.
So why, on a day when Tony tells the world there are more difficult cuts to come, should middle management be uncomfortable about Harding the Hack's move ? Well, it puts him closer to the journalists than a whole layer of people whose principal daily function is to communicate the Great Man's thinking to the workers and then return to upper floors. And, inside the BBC, it can often go wrong when the workers talk straight to the bosses. I offer you Caroline Hawley tipping Mark Thompson off about events at Newsnight.
- It is possible for a big boss to live on a newsroom floor without people bothering too much. In the Telegraph's vast Victoria hangar of multiplatform, Jason "Chauncey Gardiner" Seiken operates from a glass box at the edge, and has apparently yet to pick up the courage to take the direct route through the serried ranks of toilers on his way in and out.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
As good as a rubber factory - if not better
Could heritage, beloved of the Welsh, yet stand in the way of the BBC Wales building society ? The Taffia have long dreamed of a new headquarters in Cardiff, to match that of the Scots at Pacific Quay. But money is tight, and they need to max the value of the site they want to leave, at Llandaff.
Now, the great and the good of Cadw ("protect", "guard", "save", "preserve") have been asked to list it - something that scares off developers. It was designed by Dale Owen (1924-1997) of the Percy Thomas Partnership, and opened in 1966. Dale studied in the States under Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus school, and is said to have taken pleasure in getting BBC penny-pinchers to buy real Mies van der Rohe chairs for the reception area.
Henrietta Billings of the Twentieth Century Society tells Building Design: “Broadcasting House is one of Wales’s most outstanding and important modernist buildings, and one of the best remaining examples of this highly significant Welsh architectural practice.”
Professor Judi Loach of Cardiff University chimes in: “This is the outstanding modernist building of the post-war era in Cardiff and indeed one of the very few in Wales that can stand comparison with first rate architecture abroad.
“This is the most significant 20th-century building to be threatened in Wales since the loss of the grade II* listed rubber factory in Brynmawr, south Wales built 1946-51, demolished in 2001.”
Now, the great and the good of Cadw ("protect", "guard", "save", "preserve") have been asked to list it - something that scares off developers. It was designed by Dale Owen (1924-1997) of the Percy Thomas Partnership, and opened in 1966. Dale studied in the States under Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus school, and is said to have taken pleasure in getting BBC penny-pinchers to buy real Mies van der Rohe chairs for the reception area.
Professor Judi Loach of Cardiff University chimes in: “This is the outstanding modernist building of the post-war era in Cardiff and indeed one of the very few in Wales that can stand comparison with first rate architecture abroad.
“This is the most significant 20th-century building to be threatened in Wales since the loss of the grade II* listed rubber factory in Brynmawr, south Wales built 1946-51, demolished in 2001.”
50k v 4 million
Dear Jeff Zucker,
There's has to be a way of monetizing Piers Morgan. OK, so his chat show is down, on bad days (and there are more of them) to 50,000 US viewers in the ad-chasing age group of 25 to 54. But he has close to 4 million followers on Twitter. Even if a million are machines or dead accounts, that's an impressive number - he's ranked 325th in the world.
He's dogged and regular on Twitter - yesterday, the day of his old media demise, the Twitterverse waited with baited breath for 19 hours for the return of the social medium's favourite pantomime villain. He's built up his following over 4 years by being himself; a minor public-school boy, who, given a little time to think, can come up with a good put-down. He's deliberately "taken on" footballers, cricket players, other presenters, and Lord Sugar, in play-ground name-calling - and built an audience who seems to enjoy this new 'sport' of trolling. Every day, he also picks a few Lilliputian tweeters from the thousands who try to tweak his tail, and puts them down for spelling mistakes, being ugly, or not as famous as him.
There's half a case for just putting a live camera on him for the half hour a day he spends lashing out. But do it on CNN International, where football/soccer, cricket, and Morgan's milieu plays better, not the US service. Anderson Cooper has 4.79m Twitter followers. CNN Breaking News has 15.6m (compared with the BBC's version on 8.89m), the main CNN account 11.9m.
Yours, with no fee,
Bill
There's has to be a way of monetizing Piers Morgan. OK, so his chat show is down, on bad days (and there are more of them) to 50,000 US viewers in the ad-chasing age group of 25 to 54. But he has close to 4 million followers on Twitter. Even if a million are machines or dead accounts, that's an impressive number - he's ranked 325th in the world.
He's dogged and regular on Twitter - yesterday, the day of his old media demise, the Twitterverse waited with baited breath for 19 hours for the return of the social medium's favourite pantomime villain. He's built up his following over 4 years by being himself; a minor public-school boy, who, given a little time to think, can come up with a good put-down. He's deliberately "taken on" footballers, cricket players, other presenters, and Lord Sugar, in play-ground name-calling - and built an audience who seems to enjoy this new 'sport' of trolling. Every day, he also picks a few Lilliputian tweeters from the thousands who try to tweak his tail, and puts them down for spelling mistakes, being ugly, or not as famous as him.
There's half a case for just putting a live camera on him for the half hour a day he spends lashing out. But do it on CNN International, where football/soccer, cricket, and Morgan's milieu plays better, not the US service. Anderson Cooper has 4.79m Twitter followers. CNN Breaking News has 15.6m (compared with the BBC's version on 8.89m), the main CNN account 11.9m.
Yours, with no fee,
Bill
Down time
Caroline Bilton was actually stable in this report for Look North from Leeds on Monday - it's the camera that moves.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Familiarity
This evening "Piers Morgan Live" welcomes Montel Williams and David Arquette for live, wide-ranging, and captivating primetime interviews.
That'll be the Montel Williams who also appeared with Piers on CNN on March 9 2012, March 11 2012, August 8 2013, August 14 2013, October 9 2013 and October 19 2013.
David Arquette is promoting a cable-tv-movie in which he plays a serial killer.
That'll be the Montel Williams who also appeared with Piers on CNN on March 9 2012, March 11 2012, August 8 2013, August 14 2013, October 9 2013 and October 19 2013.
David Arquette is promoting a cable-tv-movie in which he plays a serial killer.
Mover
The BBC is having a week of internal events, speeches and workshops on diversity, entitled Reflect and Represent. I was intrigued to read that one session, 'Let's Talk About Class' will be led by "BBC Social Mobility Executive" Cheryl Varley. Last year Cheryl was a mere Talent Development Manager, and has been going a grand job mentoring BBC apprentices from all walks of life.
Cheryl's experience stretches back to days as a Labour member in Liverpool when she was expelled by the NEC after writing three articles for the Mersey Militant newspaper. Despite that, she went on to be elected as a national further education rep in the National Union Of Students.
In 2000, she had a small role in the semi-improvised Liverpool gangster drama, Shooters, in which she played "Big John's Ex". She's been an assistant producer on The Real Story in Manchester, and on at least two editions of Panorama. Could be a good session...
Cheryl's experience stretches back to days as a Labour member in Liverpool when she was expelled by the NEC after writing three articles for the Mersey Militant newspaper. Despite that, she went on to be elected as a national further education rep in the National Union Of Students.
Twitter selector
Former News of the World editor Piers Morgan dropped by CNN. His show is cancelled. http://t.co/fOVG0LcNOp
— Diane Abbott MP (@HackneyAbbott) February 24, 2014
Piers Morgan - wealthy, healthy, four children who adore him, ITV's Michael Parkinson, young hot wife - oh Piers, where did it all go wrong?
— Tony Parsons (@TonyParsonsUK) February 24, 2014
Still waiting for KP to jump to Piers Morgan's defence and demand everyone at CNN resigns immediately.
— Adam Parsons (@AdamParsons1) February 24, 2014
I'm feeling strangely contented this morning. I wonder if something wonderful has happened somewhere.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) February 24, 2014
Piers Morgan has released a statement saying he is looking forward to going home and spending more time with Piers Morgan.
— Colm Tobin (@colmtobin) February 24, 2014
What a week. Chris Moyles gets spanked by the taxman. Piers Morgan gets fired... Any news on Katie Hopkins?
— Ian Hyland (@HylandIan) February 24, 2014
Smoothbore
Last night's fifth episode of the Musketeers on BBC1 dropped to 4.5m viewers, from 7.4m achieved by the first of the run. 8.8m watched the preceding programme, Call The Midwife, meaning 4.3m found something better to do at 9pm.
Feather duster
Rats. I'll have to find something else to write about. Piers Morgan Live, the 9pm Eastern Time chat and news show on CNN, will end in March.
This is how David Carr, esteemed New York Times reporter, elegantly broke the news to readers.
CNN’s president, Jeffrey Zucker, has other problems, but none bigger than Mr. Morgan and his plum 9 p.m. time slot. Mr. Morgan said last week that he and Mr. Zucker had been talking about the show’s failure to connect and had decided to pull the plug, probably in March.
Crossing an ocean for a replacement for Larry King, who had ratings problems of his own near the end, was probably not a great idea to begin with. For a cable news station like CNN, major stories are like oxygen. When something important or scary happens in America, many of us have an immediate reflex to turn on CNN. When I find Mr. Morgan telling me what it all means, I have a similar reflex to dismiss what he is saying. It is difficult for him to speak credibly on significant American events because, after all, he just got here.
I received a return call from Mr. Morgan and was prepared for an endless argument over my assumptions. Not so. His show, he conceded, was not performing as he had hoped and was nearing its end. “It’s been a painful period and lately we have taken a bath in the ratings,” he said, adding that although there had been times when the show connected in terms of audience, slow news days were problematic.
“Look, I am a British guy debating American cultural issues, including guns, which has been very polarizing, and there is no doubt that there are many in the audience who are tired of me banging on about it,” he said. “That’s run its course and Jeff and I have been talking for some time about different ways of using me.”
So far (8am London time) there's no mention of this by Piers to his 3.98 million Twitter followers.
This is how David Carr, esteemed New York Times reporter, elegantly broke the news to readers.
CNN’s president, Jeffrey Zucker, has other problems, but none bigger than Mr. Morgan and his plum 9 p.m. time slot. Mr. Morgan said last week that he and Mr. Zucker had been talking about the show’s failure to connect and had decided to pull the plug, probably in March.
Crossing an ocean for a replacement for Larry King, who had ratings problems of his own near the end, was probably not a great idea to begin with. For a cable news station like CNN, major stories are like oxygen. When something important or scary happens in America, many of us have an immediate reflex to turn on CNN. When I find Mr. Morgan telling me what it all means, I have a similar reflex to dismiss what he is saying. It is difficult for him to speak credibly on significant American events because, after all, he just got here.
I received a return call from Mr. Morgan and was prepared for an endless argument over my assumptions. Not so. His show, he conceded, was not performing as he had hoped and was nearing its end. “It’s been a painful period and lately we have taken a bath in the ratings,” he said, adding that although there had been times when the show connected in terms of audience, slow news days were problematic.
“Look, I am a British guy debating American cultural issues, including guns, which has been very polarizing, and there is no doubt that there are many in the audience who are tired of me banging on about it,” he said. “That’s run its course and Jeff and I have been talking for some time about different ways of using me.”
So far (8am London time) there's no mention of this by Piers to his 3.98 million Twitter followers.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Buzz word
The debate about what next for the licence fee is in danger of being hi-jacked by an odd and confusing word - 'contestable'.
DG Tony Hall tries to engage with the issue this week at the Oxford Media Convention, and bits of his speech are already out and about, in which he takes on current BBC critics thus...
"Instead of saying that the licence fee is so bad that no one should have it, they have begun to suggest that the licence fee is so good that everyone should have it. They say the licence fee should be competed for and allocated to a range of providers.... What purpose would this serve? Would it make the BBC more responsive and accountable? We are not a monopoly supplier of Public Service Broadcasting. We are subject to intense competition in a market where consumers can easily switch between providers. Would contestable funding mean more choice for audiences? Audiences have never had a greater, richer amount of media choice....Fragmentation of the licence fee risks de-stabilising a broadcasting model that works. A model that is based on competition for quality – but not funding – between public and private broadcasters ".
Not, perhaps, checkmate to the DG, but a reasonable piece of castling. Lord Grade is the leading proponent of the idea that all BBC programmes except news should be made by private companies; John Birt got us on to this slippery slope in the first place, conceding the first indie quotas. In Conservative thinking, there is no point in partial pregnancy - let the market place make the whole lot. The problem is that it reduces the BBC to a group of pointy-headed commissioners, focused on performance, not the passion of programme-making; an organisation of little heart or soul, with no ballast of creativity.
Roger Mosey, former Editorial Director of the BBC, now master of Selwyn, seems to go further than Grade, with what looks like a hint on Twitter that he would rather see some of the news budget made "contestable"; there's "still a case for being bolder in supporting a range of voices in public media".
The Oxford Media Convention is the baby of the IPPR, which itself is a beneficiary of the Conservative thinking on "contestable" funding. If you want to hear the DG's speech in person, it'll cost you between £294 and £654 for the day, depending on yourclass employment or lack of it.
DG Tony Hall tries to engage with the issue this week at the Oxford Media Convention, and bits of his speech are already out and about, in which he takes on current BBC critics thus...
"Instead of saying that the licence fee is so bad that no one should have it, they have begun to suggest that the licence fee is so good that everyone should have it. They say the licence fee should be competed for and allocated to a range of providers.... What purpose would this serve? Would it make the BBC more responsive and accountable? We are not a monopoly supplier of Public Service Broadcasting. We are subject to intense competition in a market where consumers can easily switch between providers. Would contestable funding mean more choice for audiences? Audiences have never had a greater, richer amount of media choice....Fragmentation of the licence fee risks de-stabilising a broadcasting model that works. A model that is based on competition for quality – but not funding – between public and private broadcasters ".
Not, perhaps, checkmate to the DG, but a reasonable piece of castling. Lord Grade is the leading proponent of the idea that all BBC programmes except news should be made by private companies; John Birt got us on to this slippery slope in the first place, conceding the first indie quotas. In Conservative thinking, there is no point in partial pregnancy - let the market place make the whole lot. The problem is that it reduces the BBC to a group of pointy-headed commissioners, focused on performance, not the passion of programme-making; an organisation of little heart or soul, with no ballast of creativity.
Roger Mosey, former Editorial Director of the BBC, now master of Selwyn, seems to go further than Grade, with what looks like a hint on Twitter that he would rather see some of the news budget made "contestable"; there's "still a case for being bolder in supporting a range of voices in public media".
The Oxford Media Convention is the baby of the IPPR, which itself is a beneficiary of the Conservative thinking on "contestable" funding. If you want to hear the DG's speech in person, it'll cost you between £294 and £654 for the day, depending on your
Tardy
Last night's pick of the evening on Radio 4, as a far as the Radio Times was concerned, was an hour-long feature entitled "The Death of Spiv", presented by poet Paul Henry. Constructed in part from BBC Archives, it featured an interview with someone introduced as "the late George Cole". George, whilst not in the best of health, is 88. The programme is now an ex-programme, as far as the iPlayer is concerned.
Churning ?
I understand completely that net advertising often follows the interests of the reader rather than the publisher, but I remain surprised that the BBC still feels the need to spend on general, positioning, recruitment ads. There's two more years of job cuts and redeployment required to reach DQF targets plus creating T Hall's £200m fighting fund....
Saturday, February 22, 2014
More at the Emirates
Did I mention Piers Morgan was having a poor run in the ratings on CNN ? On Tuesday, Morgan averaged just 50,000 US viewers in the key 25-54 demographic, his lowest figure since May 15, 2012, when he scored 39,000.
Tuesday's figure put Morgan in fifth place among cable news shows, trailing even CNBC, which offered a programme on car theft. Morgan's guests were golfer Bubba Watson, a doctor running a charity giving plastic surgery to children, and the director of a documentary about the Arab Spring in Eqypt.
Tuesday's figure put Morgan in fifth place among cable news shows, trailing even CNBC, which offered a programme on car theft. Morgan's guests were golfer Bubba Watson, a doctor running a charity giving plastic surgery to children, and the director of a documentary about the Arab Spring in Eqypt.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Used
Former Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles was trying to avoid paying £1m in tax in 2007/8, through a scheme called "Working Wheels". A tribunal has now declared that the scheme is not legitimate, after an appeal, and another 450 individuals who have claimed against it, will be contacted and asked to pay up.
The wheeze was the creation of a company called NT Advisors, run by Matthew Jenner and Anthony Mehigan; by participating, Chris Moyles claimed he was in the second-hand car trade. In his 2008 self-assessment form, he stated that his turnover from the trade in used cars was £3,731, that he had paid an interest charge of £63, the cost of goods sold was £3,827 and he had incurred other finance charges of £1,000,000, resulting in total loss of £1,000,159.
The tribunal said the real aim of the scheme was to make it appear, “as though by magic”, that members had incurred vast fees in order to borrow modest amounts of money they did not need in order to invest it in a “trade” they had no desire to pursue.
The wheeze was the creation of a company called NT Advisors, run by Matthew Jenner and Anthony Mehigan; by participating, Chris Moyles claimed he was in the second-hand car trade. In his 2008 self-assessment form, he stated that his turnover from the trade in used cars was £3,731, that he had paid an interest charge of £63, the cost of goods sold was £3,827 and he had incurred other finance charges of £1,000,000, resulting in total loss of £1,000,159.
The tribunal said the real aim of the scheme was to make it appear, “as though by magic”, that members had incurred vast fees in order to borrow modest amounts of money they did not need in order to invest it in a “trade” they had no desire to pursue.
I'm not a tax expert and acted on advice I was given. This was a mistake and I accept the ruling without reservation.
— Chris Moyles (@CHRISDJMOYLES) February 21, 2014
Upon advice, I signed up to a scheme which I was assured was legal. Despite this, my knowledge of the dealings of the scheme were naive.
— Chris Moyles (@CHRISDJMOYLES) February 21, 2014
When in Rome....
Quite a media-friendly party off to Rome this weekend, to accompany Archbishop Vincent Nichols as he becomes a Cardinal. BBC Chairman and leading lay-Catholic Lord Patten of Barnes will be there, alongside Communities Minister, Baroness Stowell, previously Head of Communications for three other BBC "Chairs", Gavyn Davies, Michael Grade and Michael Lyons. You can imagine them whittling away airport lounge hours with banter about governance and charters.
Vincent Nichols, as a lad from Crosby, is of course super-media-friendly, as a pillar of Prayer for the Day, Thought for the Day, and Radio 2's Pause for Thought.
Vincent Nichols, as a lad from Crosby, is of course super-media-friendly, as a pillar of Prayer for the Day, Thought for the Day, and Radio 2's Pause for Thought.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Luge
What with Operation Golding, and Arsenal's loss to Bayern Munich, it must be difficult for Piers Morgan to keep his pecker up. His ratings last week were no help - no Jeff Zucker films to give our hero a day off, and Piers coasted down to 66,000 US viewers aged between 25 and 54. Monday of this week was not much better, at 72,000.
Had you there, eh ?
The BBC got 465 made-up complaints between June and September last year, as once again the Trust decided to test performance by using "mystery shoppers" from ICM, at a cost of £40k. As if there weren't enough real complainers to survey.
The change over time is that 75% of complaints now come in via email (which is amusingly also known at Auntie as "webform") - and the contents of replies, from BBC Audience Services, production departments and indies are not improving. Satisfaction levels show 60 per cent ‘extremely satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ compared with 71 per cent in 2011.
Here's some naming and shaming bits from the full report.
2 out of 290 email (webform) complaints directed to Audience Services did not receive a response at any point. Investigations conducted after fieldwork reveal that they were classified as complaints but then passed onto BBC Sport Interactive and then treated as comments which did not require a reply.
11 of the 20 email complaints made to BBC Production Departments and Independent Production Companies did not receive a response at any point. Investigations conducted after fieldwork have provided the following explanations for unanswered complaints:
– Email accounts being left unmonitored;
– Usual procedures not being followed;
– Trivial complaints not being judged serious enough to warrant a response;
– Email not being the usual channel for complaints;
– Clerical or administrative errors.
Trustees noted that two complaints passed to BBC Online were closed without being dealt with. Trustees had noted in their work on appeals brought to the Trust that some complaints sent to BBC Online divisions were not being replied to. This is unsatisfactory and the Executive has confirmed it is reviewing the handling of certain complaints about website content to improve consistency of handling. The Executive will report back to the Trust on this later in 2014.
The change over time is that 75% of complaints now come in via email (which is amusingly also known at Auntie as "webform") - and the contents of replies, from BBC Audience Services, production departments and indies are not improving. Satisfaction levels show 60 per cent ‘extremely satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ compared with 71 per cent in 2011.
Here's some naming and shaming bits from the full report.
2 out of 290 email (webform) complaints directed to Audience Services did not receive a response at any point. Investigations conducted after fieldwork reveal that they were classified as complaints but then passed onto BBC Sport Interactive and then treated as comments which did not require a reply.
11 of the 20 email complaints made to BBC Production Departments and Independent Production Companies did not receive a response at any point. Investigations conducted after fieldwork have provided the following explanations for unanswered complaints:
– Email accounts being left unmonitored;
– Usual procedures not being followed;
– Trivial complaints not being judged serious enough to warrant a response;
– Email not being the usual channel for complaints;
– Clerical or administrative errors.
Trustees noted that two complaints passed to BBC Online were closed without being dealt with. Trustees had noted in their work on appeals brought to the Trust that some complaints sent to BBC Online divisions were not being replied to. This is unsatisfactory and the Executive has confirmed it is reviewing the handling of certain complaints about website content to improve consistency of handling. The Executive will report back to the Trust on this later in 2014.
One more time
Wussy compromise or sensible transition ? The tussle between David Dimbleby and Huw Edwards to host the nation's big decision night has been resolved. Dimbers gets Election 2015, until 7am the next morning, when Huw takes over through to 10.30pm (with Dimbers to follow with an Election Question Time). Dimbers has given up on Election 2020, when he would be 81.
Dimbleby also gets to warm up the new Elstree set-up, for the local and European elections in May this year; Huw will do the Scottish referendum result.
Expect this 2015 splitting of night/day roles to continue, to assuage the competing demands of Andrew Neil, Jeremy Paxman, Jeremy Vine, Emily Maitlis and tyros like Laura Kuenssburg and James Landale.
Dimbleby also gets to warm up the new Elstree set-up, for the local and European elections in May this year; Huw will do the Scottish referendum result.
Expect this 2015 splitting of night/day roles to continue, to assuage the competing demands of Andrew Neil, Jeremy Paxman, Jeremy Vine, Emily Maitlis and tyros like Laura Kuenssburg and James Landale.
Traditional
Let no-one say that the conjunction of the Brit Awards, the RTS Journalism Awards and the Radio 2 Folk Awards meant there was a dearth of celebs to perform the handing over of gongs. Why, at the Royal Albert Hall, Radio 2 Controller Bob Shennan produced noted folkies like Zoe Ball, Greg Dyke, Jarvis Cocker, historian Kate Williams, Tony Christie and Kevin Brennan, MP for Cardiff West to make presentations. And Suzanne Vega became a folk singer for the night.
Mr S may, however, want to have a word with Welsh singer and 6Music dj, who wasn't quite with the programme...
Mr S may, however, want to have a word with Welsh singer and 6Music dj, who wasn't quite with the programme...
the English folk awards are going well
— Cerys Matthews (@cerysmatthews) February 19, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
What's in a name ?
Sorry to bombard BBC hacks today, but there's a lot to digest. Many "domestic" news staff at the BBC will be looking to Linguaphone 
from today, with the announcement that next year BBC World Service will be creating 130 new jobs, many of them bi- or multi-lingual. I wouldn't mind betting that's close to the number of post-closures that still have to be made in UK BBC News operations to reach their final Delivering Quality First target over the next two financial years.
Peter Horrocks' announcements yesterday were also interesting about identity and integration. There will be more integration; he expects "all the teams across Global News, from the World Service, BBC Monitoring, BBC World News, BBC.com and Media Action, to work seamlessly together within News and the wider BBC." Mmmm. This requires more trust than is current about "programme numbers" and "departmental cost codes". But he also announced a move designed to expand the World Service brand....
I want to announce one further change that will help reinforce the identity of the World Service. You will know that the Director-General has asked that BBC bureaucracy and titles be simplified. For instance Vision became TV. We have had two labels – Global News and World Service. From April 1, we will change the name of Global News. Instead there will be a World Service Group – a sort of World Service plus – consisting of WS, GN Ltd, Monitoring and BBC Media Action. It is a small but symbolic change that cements the WS name. A huge part of our heritage – vital to our future. At the same time with the end of Foreign Office funding, we’ll end the role of the World Service Board.
Global News as a BBC title arrived in the heady, bouffant, days of Mark Byford, first to own the designation Director of GN, alongside Director of World Service, when it was established in December 2002. It was always a pompous handle, redolent of Lex Luthor's take-over of the Daily Planet. I don't begrudge the spending of a fee-licence fees unscrewing a few name plates. What's not clear to me is what Mr Horrocks' new title might be, and how, within the mighty News, the new "World Service" balances its books with its targets.
from today, with the announcement that next year BBC World Service will be creating 130 new jobs, many of them bi- or multi-lingual. I wouldn't mind betting that's close to the number of post-closures that still have to be made in UK BBC News operations to reach their final Delivering Quality First target over the next two financial years.Peter Horrocks' announcements yesterday were also interesting about identity and integration. There will be more integration; he expects "all the teams across Global News, from the World Service, BBC Monitoring, BBC World News, BBC.com and Media Action, to work seamlessly together within News and the wider BBC." Mmmm. This requires more trust than is current about "programme numbers" and "departmental cost codes". But he also announced a move designed to expand the World Service brand....
I want to announce one further change that will help reinforce the identity of the World Service. You will know that the Director-General has asked that BBC bureaucracy and titles be simplified. For instance Vision became TV. We have had two labels – Global News and World Service. From April 1, we will change the name of Global News. Instead there will be a World Service Group – a sort of World Service plus – consisting of WS, GN Ltd, Monitoring and BBC Media Action. It is a small but symbolic change that cements the WS name. A huge part of our heritage – vital to our future. At the same time with the end of Foreign Office funding, we’ll end the role of the World Service Board.
Global News as a BBC title arrived in the heady, bouffant, days of Mark Byford, first to own the designation Director of GN, alongside Director of World Service, when it was established in December 2002. It was always a pompous handle, redolent of Lex Luthor's take-over of the Daily Planet. I don't begrudge the spending of a fee-licence fees unscrewing a few name plates. What's not clear to me is what Mr Horrocks' new title might be, and how, within the mighty News, the new "World Service" balances its books with its targets.
Homework
There's going to be a few gems buried in a forthcoming collection of essays under the title "Is the BBC in crisis ?" Bits are coming out ahead of publication. David Liddiment, the man who commissioned "Who wants to be a millionaire?" for ITV and who joined the Trust in November 2006, makes the case that, crisis or not, the Trust at least has been doing a bang-up job. It starts as a dense, closely-argued piece, but gets a tad more passionate at the end...
The idea that a public body spending £4bn a year of other people’s money can be run entirely by its board of management – on-the-ball non-execs and a hawkish NAO and PAC notwithstanding - with no separate body to protect the public interest and public value, is frankly insane. The BBC matters too much, and the public investment in it is too great. Whether that body is the Trust, an evolution of the Trust, some form of OfBeeb, or something yet to be imagined, management and the public interest must be kept separate. In fair weather or foul, someone must do the checking and it can’t be the people who run the outfit.
The core of Liddiment's argument is that "checking" - via a rolling programme of "service licences", constructed by the Trust from straw-men occasionally re-shaped by public consultation - keeps those naughty programme makers doing what licence-fee payers really want. My concern is that the service licences reflect more of what the Trustees themselves think should happen, rather than licence-fee payers. I'd like to see the listeners' letters asking for 50% speech on daytime Radio 2 - I suspect that was entirely constructed by Trustees to get commercial radio lobbyists off their back. I suspect the nudging of The Asian Network to a "a music station" (Liddiment's description) was done, in conjunction with the Executive, to boost figures and reduce costs.
Staff in BBC News will be more interested in a critique of their work by David Lloyd, former Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel 4. In part of this essay, Lloyd tries to put himself inside the head of James Harding, Director of News - here's my favourite bit from that "made-up" section, about newsgathering reporters and correspondents.
... yet he still has an instinct that, on more everyday, mundane assignments, BBC reporters tend to be less alert to the unexpected within their locations than their rivals at Sky, ITV or Channel 4; he puts this down to an over-oppressive newsgathering desk in London – fine as long as it retains a sense of strategy in the deployment of public funds, not so fine if it stifles reporters’ initiative, and the output with it.
There is also the canard that he picked up when first enquiring about the job that some of the more senior figures are almost beyond the control of production, travelling and reporting pretty much where they choose.
News hacks will also like a look at political pressure by Phil Harding. The former Today editor/ed policy Controller takes us through history, is enlightening about the Campbell Era, and offers this current view of what the political machine does to BBC News staff.
These days a lot of the shouting and swearing has died down to be replaced by intensive texting. News editors at the BBC can expected to be bombarded two or three times a week by the new generations of spin doctors. Phrases such as ‘totally inaccurate’, ‘lazy journalism’, ‘that story is far too prominent’, ‘totally unfair tone of that interview’ will fly around. Conscious of the agenda-setting role of the Today programme, particular targets are the 6, 7 and 8 o’clock news bulletins.
There are important warnings, too, about the role of the NAO and the Public Accounts Committee. And a theory about Mark Easton.
The idea that a public body spending £4bn a year of other people’s money can be run entirely by its board of management – on-the-ball non-execs and a hawkish NAO and PAC notwithstanding - with no separate body to protect the public interest and public value, is frankly insane. The BBC matters too much, and the public investment in it is too great. Whether that body is the Trust, an evolution of the Trust, some form of OfBeeb, or something yet to be imagined, management and the public interest must be kept separate. In fair weather or foul, someone must do the checking and it can’t be the people who run the outfit.
The core of Liddiment's argument is that "checking" - via a rolling programme of "service licences", constructed by the Trust from straw-men occasionally re-shaped by public consultation - keeps those naughty programme makers doing what licence-fee payers really want. My concern is that the service licences reflect more of what the Trustees themselves think should happen, rather than licence-fee payers. I'd like to see the listeners' letters asking for 50% speech on daytime Radio 2 - I suspect that was entirely constructed by Trustees to get commercial radio lobbyists off their back. I suspect the nudging of The Asian Network to a "a music station" (Liddiment's description) was done, in conjunction with the Executive, to boost figures and reduce costs.
Staff in BBC News will be more interested in a critique of their work by David Lloyd, former Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel 4. In part of this essay, Lloyd tries to put himself inside the head of James Harding, Director of News - here's my favourite bit from that "made-up" section, about newsgathering reporters and correspondents.
... yet he still has an instinct that, on more everyday, mundane assignments, BBC reporters tend to be less alert to the unexpected within their locations than their rivals at Sky, ITV or Channel 4; he puts this down to an over-oppressive newsgathering desk in London – fine as long as it retains a sense of strategy in the deployment of public funds, not so fine if it stifles reporters’ initiative, and the output with it.
There is also the canard that he picked up when first enquiring about the job that some of the more senior figures are almost beyond the control of production, travelling and reporting pretty much where they choose.
News hacks will also like a look at political pressure by Phil Harding. The former Today editor/ed policy Controller takes us through history, is enlightening about the Campbell Era, and offers this current view of what the political machine does to BBC News staff.
These days a lot of the shouting and swearing has died down to be replaced by intensive texting. News editors at the BBC can expected to be bombarded two or three times a week by the new generations of spin doctors. Phrases such as ‘totally inaccurate’, ‘lazy journalism’, ‘that story is far too prominent’, ‘totally unfair tone of that interview’ will fly around. Conscious of the agenda-setting role of the Today programme, particular targets are the 6, 7 and 8 o’clock news bulletins.
There are important warnings, too, about the role of the NAO and the Public Accounts Committee. And a theory about Mark Easton.
News from the peleton
Arriving with your fearless blogger unsigned, uncredited, and slightly under-explained, a set of grainy JPEGs from the bunkers of Henry Wood House, W1. The BBC has retained use of the basement, and used it for a mixture of cars and bikes, because of the limited provision in the twinkly new building, the other side of All Souls church.
However, my confidante suggests that, over the weekend, the balance has swung in favour of the car. Could it be that there are more drivers joining the BBC at senior management and executive levels ? This, in an organisation led by champions of cycling such as James Harding and Alan Yentob ? I expect to be reassured that the missing racks have been accommodated elsewhere. If only the number plates hadn't been blurred, eh ?
Thursday 0900 Update: I am duly reassured that the balance between cars and bikes has been maintained, and the re-organisation is simply to get better circulation.
However, my confidante suggests that, over the weekend, the balance has swung in favour of the car. Could it be that there are more drivers joining the BBC at senior management and executive levels ? This, in an organisation led by champions of cycling such as James Harding and Alan Yentob ? I expect to be reassured that the missing racks have been accommodated elsewhere. If only the number plates hadn't been blurred, eh ?
Thursday 0900 Update: I am duly reassured that the balance between cars and bikes has been maintained, and the re-organisation is simply to get better circulation.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Christmas reading
We noted just ahead of publication that Mark Byford's first book A Name on a Wall: Two Men, Two Wars, Two Destinies
had secured some pretty high-profile notices - from Andrew Marr, John Simpson, Sir Michael Parkinson and Dame Jenni Murray.
Now there are some familiar names appearing on the Amazon review pages for the book. My old boss, Richard Sambrook, who worked to Mark at the BBC; Ronald B.J. Neil, who was Mark's boss, and later his employee on putting things right post-Hutton; David Seymour, former presenter of Look North, where Mark started his BBC career; and Alan Pardon. Pardon ? Ah, yes,.finance director of the RLNI, where Mark is a Trustee.
had secured some pretty high-profile notices - from Andrew Marr, John Simpson, Sir Michael Parkinson and Dame Jenni Murray.Now there are some familiar names appearing on the Amazon review pages for the book. My old boss, Richard Sambrook, who worked to Mark at the BBC; Ronald B.J. Neil, who was Mark's boss, and later his employee on putting things right post-Hutton; David Seymour, former presenter of Look North, where Mark started his BBC career; and Alan Pardon. Pardon ? Ah, yes,.finance director of the RLNI, where Mark is a Trustee.
Go East
I hope this isn't market sensitive, but John Tate, former Director of Strategy at the BBC - and Chairman of the commercial subsidiary BBC Studios and Post-production - has left the building.
There clearly wasn't long-term room for John after the appointment of James Purnell, so John was graciously given a "project" rather than payment in lieu of notice (unloved by the PAC) as he looked for new opportunities. One has emerged in the east, and John is now Chief Operating Officer at Tamkeen, an investment and project management company of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Executive Affairs Authority.
But who is the new Chairman of BBC Studios and Post-production - a job which earned John £80k p.a.? The website currently shows three non-executive directors - the lovely Daniel Danker, a former BBC boss of on-demand, now with Shazam; the already-very well-paid-and-presumably-quite-busy Dominic Coles, Director of Operations; and we'll-never know-quite-how-much-he's-paid, Alan Yentob, Creative Director, presenter and pensioner.
There clearly wasn't long-term room for John after the appointment of James Purnell, so John was graciously given a "project" rather than payment in lieu of notice (unloved by the PAC) as he looked for new opportunities. One has emerged in the east, and John is now Chief Operating Officer at Tamkeen, an investment and project management company of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Executive Affairs Authority.
But who is the new Chairman of BBC Studios and Post-production - a job which earned John £80k p.a.? The website currently shows three non-executive directors - the lovely Daniel Danker, a former BBC boss of on-demand, now with Shazam; the already-very well-paid-and-presumably-quite-busy Dominic Coles, Director of Operations; and we'll-never know-quite-how-much-he's-paid, Alan Yentob, Creative Director, presenter and pensioner.
- CEO of Tamkeen is Jason Harborow, former chief executive of the Liverpool Culture Company, a job which didn't end well. Jason is also a volunteer touch rugby coach at New York University Abu Dhabi. He has imposed style on Tamkeen, as this extract from a blog post by graphic design student Benny Lu shows...
Mr. Harborow shared his insight into developing a successful brand by introducing projects he directed, including Liverpool: European Capital of Culture in 2008, Surrey Sports Park and Tamkeen. By presenting these projects of different scales and properties, he gave us the principles and visions a brand designer should be equipped with. I was most fascinated by the renewal of Liverpool. Mr. Harborow believed that this city required an “attractor brand” to invigorate its economic recession, and also took the initiative to revive Liverpool while competing for the European Capital of Culture in 2008. The exposure effect of the logo they designed resulted in the wide endorsement of the city. Yet the key that led to this success seemed to lie in the appropriate management of the Pareto Principle. Also called the 80/20 Rule, the Pareto Principle states that around 80% of the effect comes from approximately 20% of the cause. Instead of fine-tuning every detail of Liverpool’s specialties, Mr. Harborow’s team simply focused on Beatles, who were world renowned, and Liverpool FC, which can agglomerate the morale of the local people. This decision led to a massive success while taking into account the resources available.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Whistle
Wednesday evening sees the black-tie bunfight that is the Royal Television Society Awards, at the Hilton on Park Lane - sadly likely to be overshadowed by the Brit Awards at the O2 on the same night. RTS tickets are still available at £294 including VAT and a half-bottle of wine.
For the BBC, this is likely to be James Harding's first direct experience of the bragging rivalry between the UKs new channels. However, his pickings could be slim. The BBC is not nominated in the category Daily News Programme of The Year, or National Presenter of The Year - a shame, considering how many of each it's got. The best bet is a gong or two for Jeremy Bowen, and coverage of Syria, with another for cameramen Darren Conway.
For the BBC, this is likely to be James Harding's first direct experience of the bragging rivalry between the UKs new channels. However, his pickings could be slim. The BBC is not nominated in the category Daily News Programme of The Year, or National Presenter of The Year - a shame, considering how many of each it's got. The best bet is a gong or two for Jeremy Bowen, and coverage of Syria, with another for cameramen Darren Conway.
Hahnemühle Photo Rag
While we await news of the Susanna Reid transfer negotiations, here's a chance to purchase a print of her and Kevin in rehearsal for Strictly Come Dancing, by Chris Mann, "a portrait photographer who uses his Leica to bring out the rockstar in people." Click to go large. Only 25 of this one available.
ITV may need more than rockstar to rebuild a breakfast audience. Here's the latest consolidated viewing figures for Breakfast versus Daybreak (with Daybreak figures including those who want to watch an hour late on ITV+1). Note: There's not that much Susanna in play...
27/01 - 1.55m (Bill and Louise) vs 587k
28/01 - 1.39m (Bill and Louise) vs 599k
29/01 - 1.49m (Bill and Louise) vs 580k
30/01 - 1.53m (Chas & Susanna) vs 543k
31/01 - 1.48m (Chas & Susanna) vs 556k
03/02 - 1.51m (Bill and Louise) vs 540k
04/02 - 1.49m (Bill and Louise) vs 602k
05/02 - 1.60m (Bill and Louise) vs 628k
06/02 - 1.61m (Chas and Louise) vs 586k
07/02 - 1.63m (Chas & Susanna) vs 569k
ITV may need more than rockstar to rebuild a breakfast audience. Here's the latest consolidated viewing figures for Breakfast versus Daybreak (with Daybreak figures including those who want to watch an hour late on ITV+1). Note: There's not that much Susanna in play...
27/01 - 1.55m (Bill and Louise) vs 587k
28/01 - 1.39m (Bill and Louise) vs 599k
29/01 - 1.49m (Bill and Louise) vs 580k
30/01 - 1.53m (Chas & Susanna) vs 543k
31/01 - 1.48m (Chas & Susanna) vs 556k
03/02 - 1.51m (Bill and Louise) vs 540k
04/02 - 1.49m (Bill and Louise) vs 602k
05/02 - 1.60m (Bill and Louise) vs 628k
06/02 - 1.61m (Chas and Louise) vs 586k
07/02 - 1.63m (Chas & Susanna) vs 569k
Later
Bouncy Laura Kuennssberg is up and about tweeting on her first week back at the BBC.
It's a move to a smaller audience for Laura. Friday's Newsnight, with Kirsty Wark, attracted 530k viewers (3.3% share). On Friday the ITV News bulletin at 6.30pm got 4.26m (21.1%), and the 10pm returned 2.14m (11.1%). The BBC rarely shares Newsnight figures.
This half-term week, the presenting line-up is Victoria Derbyshire, Paxo, Paxo, Kuenssberg, Wark. What we'd really like to see is a cost-per-viewer figure, to judge what improvements the Katz makeover has brought to this expensive niche programme. This would, of course, run counter to the Yentob View of Appropriate Public Service Broadcasting Transparency.
Morning! 1st day on @BBCNewsnight - Salmond hitting back on Scotland keeping pound, flood waters could rise again, + Coop boss out and about
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) February 17, 2014
It's a move to a smaller audience for Laura. Friday's Newsnight, with Kirsty Wark, attracted 530k viewers (3.3% share). On Friday the ITV News bulletin at 6.30pm got 4.26m (21.1%), and the 10pm returned 2.14m (11.1%). The BBC rarely shares Newsnight figures.
This half-term week, the presenting line-up is Victoria Derbyshire, Paxo, Paxo, Kuenssberg, Wark. What we'd really like to see is a cost-per-viewer figure, to judge what improvements the Katz makeover has brought to this expensive niche programme. This would, of course, run counter to the Yentob View of Appropriate Public Service Broadcasting Transparency.
Leaving trunk
Just ten days before HR Director Lucy Adams leaves the BBC. She told the FT last week she was on a five-year contract, starting in June 2009, so perhaps, just perhaps, she always intended to move on, developing what she calls her "eclectic" CV.
"I had no idea when the opportunity came up to join the BBC of the press intrusion on the doorstep, the freedom of information requests flooding in at the rate of 30 a day – or that I would be termed ‘the designer clad pay-off queen’."
There's apparently still time to contribute, in cash or electronically, to her leaving present to give her something really nice. Alongside £1.6m in salary and other benefits over 4 years and 10 months.
"I had no idea when the opportunity came up to join the BBC of the press intrusion on the doorstep, the freedom of information requests flooding in at the rate of 30 a day – or that I would be termed ‘the designer clad pay-off queen’."
There's apparently still time to contribute, in cash or electronically, to her leaving present to give her something really nice. Alongside £1.6m in salary and other benefits over 4 years and 10 months.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Non-disclosure
As probably the only person in the world to contemplate a Ph.D. in Yentob Studies at the Open University, I feel certain readers would expect me to provide a textual analysis of the great man's latest bon mots, as expressed to Tara Conlan, of The Guardian.
Alan Yentob is having his picture taken on a staircase overlooking the vast BBC newsroom at New Broadcasting House and telling me about the flooding at his house in Somerset when we are interrupted by annoyed news staff. The building has been open for more than a year, and the Creative Director, who's done programmes on snappers as varied as Don McCullin and Vivian Maier, hasn't noticed the signs about photography, in particular flash photography ?
"I always felt that Tony should've been the director general. Yes, I did talk to [Lord Patten] about it and I did speak to Tony." There's much more along these lines in the piece, reinforcing a view about Yentob's continued employment expressed by a shrewd observer - "He knows where the bodies are buried".
"Known as the BBC's "Mr Fixit", he has the experience to defend it in troubled times..." The nickname could come from Tara's own research, but it's possible it was Alan's suggestion. It's not how he was known in my 34 years in the organisation. In an effort to keep this blog suitable for work, I will not comment further.
"I know from my colleagues that they like working with me and there's no hierarchical feel with me". Half of this isn't surprising - only one person works for him. According to an FoI response in November last year, "Mr Yentob reports directly to the Director General, Tony Hall, and has one direct report which is his Personal Assistant."
Why has he carried on when he might have retired? "I love that whole egalitarian thing about the BBC. It's a bonding mechanism for Britain. It's like the NHS, it gets into trouble quite a lot and it has to explain itself and it has bits which need to be fixed." And with a wave of his whole egalitarian hand, Alan pottered back to his London home on the tenth-most-expensive street in the UK, before checking on his Somerset house, and heading to the Marrakech Biennale. BBC salaries are paid on the 15th of the month, as are BBC pensions. One isn't allowed to know when Mr Yentob receives his presenter payments, or how much they are.
[The BBC] "can't compete with its hands tied behind its back and being told: 'You can't pay the talent this and you've got to disclose everything you do' ."
Alan Yentob is having his picture taken on a staircase overlooking the vast BBC newsroom at New Broadcasting House and telling me about the flooding at his house in Somerset when we are interrupted by annoyed news staff. The building has been open for more than a year, and the Creative Director, who's done programmes on snappers as varied as Don McCullin and Vivian Maier, hasn't noticed the signs about photography, in particular flash photography ?
"I always felt that Tony should've been the director general. Yes, I did talk to [Lord Patten] about it and I did speak to Tony." There's much more along these lines in the piece, reinforcing a view about Yentob's continued employment expressed by a shrewd observer - "He knows where the bodies are buried".
"Known as the BBC's "Mr Fixit", he has the experience to defend it in troubled times..." The nickname could come from Tara's own research, but it's possible it was Alan's suggestion. It's not how he was known in my 34 years in the organisation. In an effort to keep this blog suitable for work, I will not comment further.
"I know from my colleagues that they like working with me and there's no hierarchical feel with me". Half of this isn't surprising - only one person works for him. According to an FoI response in November last year, "Mr Yentob reports directly to the Director General, Tony Hall, and has one direct report which is his Personal Assistant."
Why has he carried on when he might have retired? "I love that whole egalitarian thing about the BBC. It's a bonding mechanism for Britain. It's like the NHS, it gets into trouble quite a lot and it has to explain itself and it has bits which need to be fixed." And with a wave of his whole egalitarian hand, Alan pottered back to his London home on the tenth-most-expensive street in the UK, before checking on his Somerset house, and heading to the Marrakech Biennale. BBC salaries are paid on the 15th of the month, as are BBC pensions. One isn't allowed to know when Mr Yentob receives his presenter payments, or how much they are.
[The BBC] "can't compete with its hands tied behind its back and being told: 'You can't pay the talent this and you've got to disclose everything you do' ."
Saturday, February 15, 2014
No love lost
Those who would rip the naughty BBC from the warm, if irritated, bosom of The BBC Trust, should be aware that the cold arms of state-child minder Ofcom would show their new charge no favours.
Dame Colette Bowe, outgoing chairman of Ofcom, as reported by The Guardian, told a dinner this week "I am an economist ..... There is a lot to be said for contestable funding on competition groundsI have got sympathy with the idea that some more of the funding currently available for public service broadcasting should be contestable. Because on the whole I am on the side of the people in the sector who believe that what we need is even more competition and dynamism and innovation than we have got."
As well as being an economist, Dame Colette was a life model at Slade School of Art (to help pay for her own university career at Queen Mary College and the LSE); a civil servant sidekick to Michael Heseltine, Norman Tebbit and Leon Brittan, which all went belly up when she explored the careeer of press officer - and her bosses were rowing over Westland; and thence a collector of non-executive and quango posts, plus good works. She's a fan of Liverpool FC and joked (apparently) on ascending to the top job at Southwark Bridge that she would have the BBC rename their flagship children's programme "Red Peter".
Dame Colette Bowe, outgoing chairman of Ofcom, as reported by The Guardian, told a dinner this week "I am an economist ..... There is a lot to be said for contestable funding on competition groundsI have got sympathy with the idea that some more of the funding currently available for public service broadcasting should be contestable. Because on the whole I am on the side of the people in the sector who believe that what we need is even more competition and dynamism and innovation than we have got."
As well as being an economist, Dame Colette was a life model at Slade School of Art (to help pay for her own university career at Queen Mary College and the LSE); a civil servant sidekick to Michael Heseltine, Norman Tebbit and Leon Brittan, which all went belly up when she explored the careeer of press officer - and her bosses were rowing over Westland; and thence a collector of non-executive and quango posts, plus good works. She's a fan of Liverpool FC and joked (apparently) on ascending to the top job at Southwark Bridge that she would have the BBC rename their flagship children's programme "Red Peter".
Invitation to tender
A number of media reporters claim to have found "secret" tender documents, inviting bids to deliver a new exterior set for EastEnders.
Let's be clear - the documents are not secret - that's how public tendering works. It's just that they don't mention the word EastEnders. They are headed "Project E20" - the postcode given to the fictional Walford. But it's obvious what the job is - and the tender is explicit in its estimate that the construction value is over £15m.
The successful Architect must be able to demonstrate it is able to meet all of the BBC's key requirements, but in particular the following:
1) A proven track record of sourcing specialist products needed for visual replication of the on screen elements, including reclaimed materials for project use, or refurbishment and/or specialist manufacture of individual architectural components. Obtaining samples of all, for testing and end user sign off.
2) Experience of replication, to the highest level, of the “finish & appearance” of weathered and damaged building/structure facades and backdrops for the purposes of television production.
3) Previous relevant experience that demonstrates the ability to advise the project in general and the TV set designers in particular on best practice for the new construction, and on when to use “scenic” design & materials or traditional building materials such as reclaimed and purpose made brick.
4) An understanding of the unique detailing of period buildings in particular, their construction methodology in order to replicate as original and where to source the materials whether antique or replica, to the quality and quantity required. Explain how the ageing process takes place on a TV production lot and the constraints this places on the build programme.
Let's be clear - the documents are not secret - that's how public tendering works. It's just that they don't mention the word EastEnders. They are headed "Project E20" - the postcode given to the fictional Walford. But it's obvious what the job is - and the tender is explicit in its estimate that the construction value is over £15m.
The successful Architect must be able to demonstrate it is able to meet all of the BBC's key requirements, but in particular the following:
1) A proven track record of sourcing specialist products needed for visual replication of the on screen elements, including reclaimed materials for project use, or refurbishment and/or specialist manufacture of individual architectural components. Obtaining samples of all, for testing and end user sign off.
2) Experience of replication, to the highest level, of the “finish & appearance” of weathered and damaged building/structure facades and backdrops for the purposes of television production.
3) Previous relevant experience that demonstrates the ability to advise the project in general and the TV set designers in particular on best practice for the new construction, and on when to use “scenic” design & materials or traditional building materials such as reclaimed and purpose made brick.
4) An understanding of the unique detailing of period buildings in particular, their construction methodology in order to replicate as original and where to source the materials whether antique or replica, to the quality and quantity required. Explain how the ageing process takes place on a TV production lot and the constraints this places on the build programme.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Bookish
The Oxford Literary Festival, at the end of March, sponsored by FT Weekend, and partnered by supposedly-cash-strapped BBC Four, has an huge BBC list running through it.
In order, you get Jim Al-Khalilii, James Naughtie, Andrew Graham-Dixon, Sheila Dillon, Lucy Worsley, Mark Tully, Kirsty Wark, Hardeep Singh Kohli, Ed Stourton, Jeremy Paxman, Michael Blastland, Melvyn Bragg, Count Arthur Strong, and Gavin Hewitt. You could reduce some costs by moving it to Broadcasting House.
If that's not enough, Lord Patten gets to choose the festival's lecturer, who will be Orhan Pamuk.
In order, you get Jim Al-Khalilii, James Naughtie, Andrew Graham-Dixon, Sheila Dillon, Lucy Worsley, Mark Tully, Kirsty Wark, Hardeep Singh Kohli, Ed Stourton, Jeremy Paxman, Michael Blastland, Melvyn Bragg, Count Arthur Strong, and Gavin Hewitt. You could reduce some costs by moving it to Broadcasting House.
If that's not enough, Lord Patten gets to choose the festival's lecturer, who will be Orhan Pamuk.
Year of the Horse
It's not really a surprise that the Qatari-backed news channel Al Jazeera is finally taking space in the Qatari-backed Shard. They're currently fitting out 27,700 sq ft of studio and office space on level 16, with a view to broadcasting from late summer, when they'll move their London operation from Knightsbridge.
Still looking for a London base however, is the Chinese news channel, CCTV (will that really fly as a brand name in the UK?). They started up in Beijing in 2010 (now operating from the Arup-designed "cranked loop"). Now the news operation also has broadcast teams in Washington and Nairobi, and London seems a little behind schedule. Their fledging base is offices in The Interchange, the former warehouse up at Camden Lock, originally built to move beer and wine from canal boats to rail. It overlooks a part of the waterway known as Dead Dog Basin.
Still looking for a London base however, is the Chinese news channel, CCTV (will that really fly as a brand name in the UK?). They started up in Beijing in 2010 (now operating from the Arup-designed "cranked loop"). Now the news operation also has broadcast teams in Washington and Nairobi, and London seems a little behind schedule. Their fledging base is offices in The Interchange, the former warehouse up at Camden Lock, originally built to move beer and wine from canal boats to rail. It overlooks a part of the waterway known as Dead Dog Basin.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
The Cameron Line
Here's a minute on from the most recent set from the BBC Trust which may be of interest to people who like making Freedom of Information enquiries. It's on the topic of Executive Renumeration.
Members noted that, while good progress had been made in meeting the target reductions in the senior manager headcount and pay bill, more work was needed in reducing the number of senior managers who earn more than £150,000 pa.
The Prime Minister's declared salary is £142,500 pa.
Members noted that, while good progress had been made in meeting the target reductions in the senior manager headcount and pay bill, more work was needed in reducing the number of senior managers who earn more than £150,000 pa.
The Prime Minister's declared salary is £142,500 pa.
Deputed
One presumes the floods are distracting hyper-active Sky News boss John Ryley from making a quick decision on a new political editor. The field to replace Thomas Adam Babbington Boulton (Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford) is thought to be a big one - but it's being carefully monitored at Telegraph Towers.
There, Benedict Brogan is still described as "Deputy Editor" - though his Editor, Tony Gallagher has been removed, with assistant editor (news) Chris Evans appointed "acting" editor, Monday to Friday, of the Daily Telegraph print edition. As with most interventions from Jason Seiken, Editor-in-Chief, there's a broad vision but little detail. So Benedict's candidacy for a move to the red, white and blue of the big screen takes on an additional edge.
Benedict loves Today, Radio 3, making jam and The Shard. He was caught taking the name of Arsenal in vain in an email, in an employment tribunal brought (and lost) by Andrew Gimson.
There, Benedict Brogan is still described as "Deputy Editor" - though his Editor, Tony Gallagher has been removed, with assistant editor (news) Chris Evans appointed "acting" editor, Monday to Friday, of the Daily Telegraph print edition. As with most interventions from Jason Seiken, Editor-in-Chief, there's a broad vision but little detail. So Benedict's candidacy for a move to the red, white and blue of the big screen takes on an additional edge.
Benedict loves Today, Radio 3, making jam and The Shard. He was caught taking the name of Arsenal in vain in an email, in an employment tribunal brought (and lost) by Andrew Gimson.
We don't do irony
No commentary needed here on this FoI exchange...
Dear Mr Barnard,
Freedom of Information request – RFI20140105
Thank you for your request to the BBC of 21st January 2014, seeking the following information
under the Freedom of Information Act 2000:
“Introduction:
As most intelligent people have realised Newswatch is an ineffectual, theatre for complaints where
license fee payers are patronised to death by 'senior BBC officials' but nothing ever changes. This
request is to uncover whether there is, in fact, any effect on the BBC from complaints made to this
piece of 'complaints theatre' or 'engagement' as it's cynically called nowadays.
Question:
How many complaints and observations to Newswatch have resulted in any substantive changes
within the BBC News organisation over the past five years?
I am not asking [at this point] for details, though, given the propensity of the BBC to spin, evade,
hide, cover-up etc. I may ask the trust to corroborate details. Since I'm not asking for details, I'll
complain to the information commissioner about the use of 'journalism, art and literature' to evade
this question as the BBC has apparently evaded tens of others”
The information you have requested is excluded from the Act because it is held for the purposes
of ‘journalism, art or literature.’ The BBC is therefore not obliged to provide this information to
you and will not be doing so on this occasion.
Levels
It was only a couple of days ago that I discovered that film director Stephen Frears had a regular coterie of big breakfast companions in Notting Hill on Friday mornings, including BBC Creative Director Alan Yentob. Today comes news that the conversation will continue at the Marrakech Biennale at the end of February - can they have anything left to say to each other after all these years ?
Also getting the Yentob treatment in Morocco is another film-maker, Julien Temple. Julian lives in Aisholt, Somerset, and is a pillar of the Bridgwater artistic community - as is Alan; both are patrons of Somerset Film.
Alan has what the Daily Mail always describes as a Tudor mansion outside the town. The floods have brought understandable tensions to the area, with earth works and Dutch mega-pumps being deployed to protect Bridgwater's 36,000 inhabitants - while more rural areas feel the water's simply being diverted in their direction. Mr Temple's address seems to be on higher ground; maybe readers can help with the position of Yentob above mean flood level ?
Also getting the Yentob treatment in Morocco is another film-maker, Julien Temple. Julian lives in Aisholt, Somerset, and is a pillar of the Bridgwater artistic community - as is Alan; both are patrons of Somerset Film.
Alan has what the Daily Mail always describes as a Tudor mansion outside the town. The floods have brought understandable tensions to the area, with earth works and Dutch mega-pumps being deployed to protect Bridgwater's 36,000 inhabitants - while more rural areas feel the water's simply being diverted in their direction. Mr Temple's address seems to be on higher ground; maybe readers can help with the position of Yentob above mean flood level ?
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Good with words
I've belatedly found an Accenture report on what to do next with the BBC's flailing and failing Digital Media Initiative, (not to be confused, as I previously did in this post, with a DMI internal report commissioned from two Accenture secondees, which caused a bit of a hoo-ha at the most recent meeting of the Public Accounts Committee). The glossary is fun - it smacks of a project rather too pleased with its own cleverness, after rebranding DMI as "Fabric". Here are some samples, full of delightful project guff.
CASHMERE: A project in JIRA that is maintained by the business users and not by the DMI team. As a resource it feeds into the Fabric Archive Product Management Group (PMG) and is used to drive discussions about future requirements and possible Roadmap items.
JIRA: An issue and project tracking software used by the BBC as part of Agile methodologies. There are numerous programmes in the system, with projects underneath each one, e.g. DMI>Perspex.
JUPITER: A project for Journalism designed to migrate Journalism video content and World Service audio content into Fabric. The Jupiter News system packages are archived to tape. These tapes are stored in TVC basement. They will be moved to a temporary digital shelf in W1 by Journalism and then migrated to Fabric via an interface with Jupiter. The same interface will be used to migrate ongoing Journalism video assets and to retrieve them from Fabric too.
PERIVALE: A location in London where physical assets are stored. In this document, Perivale is also the name of a project not within DMI, but that has dependencies on DMI. This project is focussed on the import of encoded or transcoded content presented on the network, and sharing into Fabric WIP and Fabric Archive
PERSPEX: A JIRA project. This is where all business functional and non-functional requirements and improvements for Fabric Archive are currently stored. Perspex replaces Velvet, and is where new requirements accepted as in scope for Fabric Archive are created.
SILK: A project in JIRA for Production Tools and Digital Archive high level requirements.
VELVET: A project in JIRA. This is a repository for Fabric Archive requirements that is in the process of being shut down, and replaced by Perspex.
Meanwhile the report also reveals that the End to End Digital project, which is the new moondust offered to the Public Accounts Committee by Director of Operations, Dominic Coles, is called Pasadena. Don't get me started.
CASHMERE: A project in JIRA that is maintained by the business users and not by the DMI team. As a resource it feeds into the Fabric Archive Product Management Group (PMG) and is used to drive discussions about future requirements and possible Roadmap items.
JIRA: An issue and project tracking software used by the BBC as part of Agile methodologies. There are numerous programmes in the system, with projects underneath each one, e.g. DMI>Perspex.
JUPITER: A project for Journalism designed to migrate Journalism video content and World Service audio content into Fabric. The Jupiter News system packages are archived to tape. These tapes are stored in TVC basement. They will be moved to a temporary digital shelf in W1 by Journalism and then migrated to Fabric via an interface with Jupiter. The same interface will be used to migrate ongoing Journalism video assets and to retrieve them from Fabric too.
PERIVALE: A location in London where physical assets are stored. In this document, Perivale is also the name of a project not within DMI, but that has dependencies on DMI. This project is focussed on the import of encoded or transcoded content presented on the network, and sharing into Fabric WIP and Fabric Archive
PERSPEX: A JIRA project. This is where all business functional and non-functional requirements and improvements for Fabric Archive are currently stored. Perspex replaces Velvet, and is where new requirements accepted as in scope for Fabric Archive are created.
SILK: A project in JIRA for Production Tools and Digital Archive high level requirements.
VELVET: A project in JIRA. This is a repository for Fabric Archive requirements that is in the process of being shut down, and replaced by Perspex.
Meanwhile the report also reveals that the End to End Digital project, which is the new moondust offered to the Public Accounts Committee by Director of Operations, Dominic Coles, is called Pasadena. Don't get me started.
Moisture
Critical
Success criteria seem to be getting tougher on BBC1. There'll be no third series of the Zola-story-relocated- to-Newcastle department store drama The Paradise. Its average audience over 16 episodes - 5.5m. Costs also may have been high - certainly the Lambton Estate, on the fringes of Sunderland had to invest in repairs to Lambton Castle, and the series provided work for a pool of 100 local extras.
Meanwhile, anxieties about replacing Ben Miller with Kris Marshall as lead for the third series of Caribbean cop caper Death In Paradise have been eased - last night's episode scored 7.2m in the overnights. Ben's best - 6.9m.
Meanwhile, anxieties about replacing Ben Miller with Kris Marshall as lead for the third series of Caribbean cop caper Death In Paradise have been eased - last night's episode scored 7.2m in the overnights. Ben's best - 6.9m.
How to get a new job
In December, the BBC Trust published a review of governance, following what it sensitively called "a year of difficult events". It included this action point....
This review has highlighted the need to improve the coordination between the Trust and the Executive Board. The Executive will appoint a new post of Company Secretary to oversee the secretariat for all pan-BBC boards; providing advice and support to Executive Board members, including non-executive directors; drive the Executive agenda; and to manage the relationship with the BBC Trust.
The review was the work of Julian Payne, from the Executive side of the house, and Phil Harrold, Head of Governance at the Trust.
I understand that Phil can now hand back the Powdered Periwig of Governance, replace the Tricorne of Compliance in its satin-lined box, and swop breeches for chinos. He's pottering down Great Portland Street to fill the new BBC role of Company Secretary.
This review has highlighted the need to improve the coordination between the Trust and the Executive Board. The Executive will appoint a new post of Company Secretary to oversee the secretariat for all pan-BBC boards; providing advice and support to Executive Board members, including non-executive directors; drive the Executive agenda; and to manage the relationship with the BBC Trust.
The review was the work of Julian Payne, from the Executive side of the house, and Phil Harrold, Head of Governance at the Trust.
I understand that Phil can now hand back the Powdered Periwig of Governance, replace the Tricorne of Compliance in its satin-lined box, and swop breeches for chinos. He's pottering down Great Portland Street to fill the new BBC role of Company Secretary.
Counting the days
Seven weeks to go before I start paying for the BBC World Service via the licence fee. The BBC Trust has published this short minute from its December meeting.
Subject to securing any necessary clearances from Government, the Trust endorsed the development of a consistent approach to funding and editorial rules and agreed that, from 1 April 2014, a limited amount of advertising and sponsored content that is not news and current affairs could be broadcast on BBC World Service.
A little more flesh on this bare bone came from Director of BBC Global News, Peter Horrocks, in front of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee yesterday. World Service funding for next year is set at £245m; funding for the final two years of the current Charter has not been fixed, but Mr Horrocks believes it won't fall below £245m - it's the level of increased funding that has to be set. In terms of current commercial income, in the last financial year World Service received £4m from syndication, £2.5m in co-production money - and around £200k from ads on four foreign language websites. There are plans for ads on up to four more sites.
Listeners in the UK to the World Service in English won't hear ads, but will probably pick up sponsored programmes.
Two things still hanging; the DCMS needs to sign off the alternative finance proposals; and the Editorial Standards Committee of the Trust need to approve draft Editorial Guidelines for BBC Global News Services on external relationships and funding - will the licence-fee payer see those before 1st April ?
Subject to securing any necessary clearances from Government, the Trust endorsed the development of a consistent approach to funding and editorial rules and agreed that, from 1 April 2014, a limited amount of advertising and sponsored content that is not news and current affairs could be broadcast on BBC World Service.
A little more flesh on this bare bone came from Director of BBC Global News, Peter Horrocks, in front of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee yesterday. World Service funding for next year is set at £245m; funding for the final two years of the current Charter has not been fixed, but Mr Horrocks believes it won't fall below £245m - it's the level of increased funding that has to be set. In terms of current commercial income, in the last financial year World Service received £4m from syndication, £2.5m in co-production money - and around £200k from ads on four foreign language websites. There are plans for ads on up to four more sites.
Listeners in the UK to the World Service in English won't hear ads, but will probably pick up sponsored programmes.
Two things still hanging; the DCMS needs to sign off the alternative finance proposals; and the Editorial Standards Committee of the Trust need to approve draft Editorial Guidelines for BBC Global News Services on external relationships and funding - will the licence-fee payer see those before 1st April ?
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Career management
Well done to Janice Hadlow at BBC2 - a good five years at the helm, with a terrific record on history programming - not bad for the comprehensive girl from Kent. Six weeks to go, then a nice little project to see her through to pension, carefully constructed by Danny Cohen.
In her new role as Controller, Special Projects and Seasons, she will develop and originate high impact cross-platform series, seasons and other major television events. Janice will also advise Danny Cohen and the Channel Controllers on broadcast strategy.
Will Danny, champion of diversity, be able to maintain the gender balance of his top team in finding a successor ? Will Martin Davidson, Janice's devoted hubby (he once described her as his "trina luce che 'n unica stella scintillando" - the triple light which dazzles in a single star), stay on alone on the sixth floor of Broadcasting House as Commissioner of History and Business ?
In her new role as Controller, Special Projects and Seasons, she will develop and originate high impact cross-platform series, seasons and other major television events. Janice will also advise Danny Cohen and the Channel Controllers on broadcast strategy.
Will Danny, champion of diversity, be able to maintain the gender balance of his top team in finding a successor ? Will Martin Davidson, Janice's devoted hubby (he once described her as his "trina luce che 'n unica stella scintillando" - the triple light which dazzles in a single star), stay on alone on the sixth floor of Broadcasting House as Commissioner of History and Business ?
Confidence building ?
BBC DG Tony Hall has chosen The Independent to make a pledge about the World Service: "Its future is safe in our hands".
"We inherit the World Service at a particularly testing time. We are tasked with cutting £700m across the BBC by 2017, including more than £60m from BBC News. Even against that background, I am absolutely committed to seeing the World Service prosper. And beyond just protecting the World Service’s budget, I want to look to invest more to fund its digital future so that we can reach half a billion people around the world by 2022."
Read the rest. High on passion, which is good. Light on mechanics and modalities, which is still a concern, with budgetary control switching in six weeks. Perhaps we'll get more later today as Peter Horrocks, BBC Director of Global News and his finance guru Richard Thomas, give evidence to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on the future of the service at 3.30pm.
"We inherit the World Service at a particularly testing time. We are tasked with cutting £700m across the BBC by 2017, including more than £60m from BBC News. Even against that background, I am absolutely committed to seeing the World Service prosper. And beyond just protecting the World Service’s budget, I want to look to invest more to fund its digital future so that we can reach half a billion people around the world by 2022."
Read the rest. High on passion, which is good. Light on mechanics and modalities, which is still a concern, with budgetary control switching in six weeks. Perhaps we'll get more later today as Peter Horrocks, BBC Director of Global News and his finance guru Richard Thomas, give evidence to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on the future of the service at 3.30pm.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Patten's right hand
Just a couple of days left if you want to take a punt at the job of Director BBC Trust. All that's required is that you email Karen Moran (of "Lay Off Lucy" fame) with your CV.
First incumbent Nicholas Kroll made the role his own - many thought they would "retire the shirt" after the most recent review of how BBC governance fell down a hole somewhere between Great Portland Street and Portland Place.
In the job spec, there's a flavour of the resilience required to face Select Committees: Manages personal effectiveness by managing emotions in the face of pressure, setbacks or when dealing with provocative situations. And a brief summary of the task ahead. The Trust has the immediate task of assessing recent proposals from the Director-General for the BBC’s strategy to 2016. The exact timing of the Charter Review process and future licence fee negotiations is for the Government. This will be the focus of a wide debate about the BBC’s continuing mission, track record and future shape, including governance. Could be a two year contract ?
First incumbent Nicholas Kroll made the role his own - many thought they would "retire the shirt" after the most recent review of how BBC governance fell down a hole somewhere between Great Portland Street and Portland Place.
In the job spec, there's a flavour of the resilience required to face Select Committees: Manages personal effectiveness by managing emotions in the face of pressure, setbacks or when dealing with provocative situations. And a brief summary of the task ahead. The Trust has the immediate task of assessing recent proposals from the Director-General for the BBC’s strategy to 2016. The exact timing of the Charter Review process and future licence fee negotiations is for the Government. This will be the focus of a wide debate about the BBC’s continuing mission, track record and future shape, including governance. Could be a two year contract ?
- If there are any internal candidates reading, could you get someone who knows how, to post online the notes of the Trust meeting on 23 January ? They are missing at time of writing, and thus failing on the commitment "Within two weeks of each meeting a summary of the topics covered is published".
Niff
Last night's fourth episode of The Musketeers on BBC1 dipped to 4.8m viewers - the average audience for the last series of Ripper Street, which, unlike The Musketeers, wasn't recommissioned. Babylon on Channel 4 got 1.6m - but doesn't return until much later in the year, which may give Pathos, Athos and Aftershave some respite.
The first two episodes of Belgian crime thriller Salamander on BBC4 on Saturday night returned audiences of 1.03m and 928k. Salamander provided the second highest rating of the year when it was first shown in Belgium in 2012, with the final episode attracting 1.8m viewers.
The first two episodes of Belgian crime thriller Salamander on BBC4 on Saturday night returned audiences of 1.03m and 928k. Salamander provided the second highest rating of the year when it was first shown in Belgium in 2012, with the final episode attracting 1.8m viewers.
Glam Slam
Just a month from his 67th birthday, is Alan Yentob getting confused ? The Prince by Machiavelli was the subject of one of his recent Imagine programmes - what was he expecting at the Shepherd's Bush Empire last night ?
Alan avoided the eight-hour queues endured by fans of Prince Rogers Nelson, and skipped up to the celebrity balcony where he boogied alongside funkmeister George Clinton (72) and actress Gemma Arteton (28). On those at the BBC will know if Al went on to the after-party....
Alan avoided the eight-hour queues endured by fans of Prince Rogers Nelson, and skipped up to the celebrity balcony where he boogied alongside funkmeister George Clinton (72) and actress Gemma Arteton (28). On those at the BBC will know if Al went on to the after-party....
Clarity
We talked about "native" advertising before in connection with the New York Times. As with print versions of the advertorial, the question is how clear it's made to the reader that the feature is really an ad. Do you think this, on the Mirror's home page today, does enough ?
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Jay walking
Here's a bit of Jay Leno's first post-Tonight Show performance, doing stand-up in Sarasota, Florida. Not entirely on top of the whoopers and hecklers.
It is only the dead who do not return - Dumas
Odd press release for a Sunday: The BBC has signed up for a second series of its "much-heralded buckle of swash" (c Grace Dent) The Musketeers. Controller BBC1 Charlotte Moore says "I can't wait to see how things will develop in the next series."
Tonight's episode - number 4 of ten - is not only up against Mr Selfridge on ITV, but Channel 4's new Danny Boyle-directed comedy drama Babylon, where Twenty Twelve meets the Metropolitan Police. It should attract more than The Jump - and I'm guessing that'll take our French re-commissioned heroes down below 5m in the overnights.
Tonight's episode - number 4 of ten - is not only up against Mr Selfridge on ITV, but Channel 4's new Danny Boyle-directed comedy drama Babylon, where Twenty Twelve meets the Metropolitan Police. It should attract more than The Jump - and I'm guessing that'll take our French re-commissioned heroes down below 5m in the overnights.
Other writers are available
Ah, the Yentob industry. Former Stuckist artist, Billy Chyldish (aka Childish) is, by my estimation, £2,325 better off, after selling out a series of three signed posters at £25 each, with the slogans "Yentob thinks Beyonce is Vincent Van Gogh", "Oi, Yentob, shut your gob !" and, my favourite, "Yentob is mates with anyone famous".
Last night we had a Culture Show special, with Alan interviewing Hanif Kureishi on the publication of his latest novel, "The Last Word". It featured Stephen Frears, former-BBC-arts-producer-turned-film-producer Kevin Loader, and film director Roger Michell.
This, from Mick Brown in the Telegraph in 2010:
Stephen Frears lives between Dorset and a house in Notting Hill, London. When in town, he is usually to be found each Friday morning at a cafe a short walk from his home, where over the years an informal salon has grown up. At any given time this will probably include Frears's close friend Hanif Kureishi, the BBC's Alan Yentob and a revolving selection of writers and film people.
Last night we had a Culture Show special, with Alan interviewing Hanif Kureishi on the publication of his latest novel, "The Last Word". It featured Stephen Frears, former-BBC-arts-producer-turned-film-producer Kevin Loader, and film director Roger Michell.
This, from Mick Brown in the Telegraph in 2010:
Stephen Frears lives between Dorset and a house in Notting Hill, London. When in town, he is usually to be found each Friday morning at a cafe a short walk from his home, where over the years an informal salon has grown up. At any given time this will probably include Frears's close friend Hanif Kureishi, the BBC's Alan Yentob and a revolving selection of writers and film people.
At the touch of a button
Senior weatherwoman Helen Willetts found that, despite frantic button pushing, the maps just wouldn't come last night on BBC1. The 22.15 forecast was as illuminating as a radio bulletin.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Oh! Susanna
The Daily Mirror reckons that ITV want Susanna Reid for their latest attempt to get a credible share of the breakfast tv audience - and are prepared to offer her £1m pa. (up from her current estimated £250k.)
According to reporter Nicola Methven, who seems to have something of an inside track at Daybreak, Susanna is being courted by ITV boss Helen Warner for the new programme, likely to be called Good Morning Britain. Helen apparently needs a decision in the next few days, to start in early summer.
The re-launch editor is Neil Thompson - slightly longer in the tooth than the three previous Daybreak editors, Neil was a producer on the original GMTV in 1992, fronted by a quartet including Eamonn Holmes, Anne Davies, Michael Wilson and Fiona Armstrong. Within six weeks of launch, it had lost 2 million viewers compared with the old TV-am; Mark Lawson dubbed it "Grinning Morons TV".
Neil also had a spell in the dog-days of GMTV, as Managing Editor 2009/10.
But the big question - will Susanna be tempted ? "If you cut me open I would bleed BBC" she told the Mirror in December, when there was a rumour of a Daybreak offer at £500k. Is this Tweet ominous ?
According to reporter Nicola Methven, who seems to have something of an inside track at Daybreak, Susanna is being courted by ITV boss Helen Warner for the new programme, likely to be called Good Morning Britain. Helen apparently needs a decision in the next few days, to start in early summer.
The re-launch editor is Neil Thompson - slightly longer in the tooth than the three previous Daybreak editors, Neil was a producer on the original GMTV in 1992, fronted by a quartet including Eamonn Holmes, Anne Davies, Michael Wilson and Fiona Armstrong. Within six weeks of launch, it had lost 2 million viewers compared with the old TV-am; Mark Lawson dubbed it "Grinning Morons TV".
Neil also had a spell in the dog-days of GMTV, as Managing Editor 2009/10.
But the big question - will Susanna be tempted ? "If you cut me open I would bleed BBC" she told the Mirror in December, when there was a rumour of a Daybreak offer at £500k. Is this Tweet ominous ?
Finishing touches via @mitchlumsden pic.twitter.com/7Q5GAYNr3I
— Susanna Reid (@susannareid100) February 7, 2014
Dished
Holiday home in Europe ? Been taking advantage of the "free" in Freesat to watch BBC channels via a nice little dish ? No longer, it seems.
Over the past few days, transmission of UK "free" channels, from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, has been moved to a new satellite, Astra 2E. It has a stronger, more UK-focussed footprint, which should improve reception on the South East coast of England, the north eastern fringes of East Anglia, the North East of Scotland and the Shetland Isles.
However, it means blank screens in many parts of southern and central Europe, where people will have to buy a bigger dish - or find another cute way of getting "free" UK services.
Read this litany from SkyinMadrid:
GERMANY BBC channels have disappeared from the north around Hanover through Munich and to the Austrian border. Previously, 60 to 90cm dishes were enough. Dishes of around 120cm may be needed. This is guesswork, no-one needed dishes this big before.
POLAND A 1.0m dish has lost BBC near the German border, 100km east from Berlin.
ITALY No BBC for most in the centre and south. 1.5m is OK in Verona, 1.25m in Milan. Between this area and Rome, 1.8 to 2.5 metres. Further south, in Potenza, Basilicata (well south of Rome), a monster 3.4 metre Prodelin dish is receiving the the UK Spot beam.
FRANCE Large scale losses from the southernmost quarter of the country. Typically dishes have been 80-90cm in the past. In some areas, a re-tune and a better LNB will get the signals back, but with little rain margin. A 120cm. may be needed. Near the border with Catalunya, the signal is worse. There is a report of a well-tuned 90 cm retaining the BBC between Cannes and Nice, but many reports of BBC loss in the region, roughly in a line drawn eastwards and westwards north of Toulouse.
GREECE Complete loss of BBC in all reports.
NORTH AFRICA Tunisia and Tangiers, loss of BBC on 2 metre dishes. Perhaps surprisingly, the BBC was easy to receive in N. Africa.
SWEDEN Losses on 1.2m dishes. 1.5 to 1.8m may be needed in most parts of the country.
NORWAY Dishes of 90cm used to be OK in the south, but not now. Upgrades to 120cm may be needed. CANARIES Dishes of 2.4 to 3.2 now necessary. A good quality, and expensive, 2.4m ChannelMaster type is needed with a top quality LNB. Reports of BBC loss on 3.2m dishes in Tenerife.
PORTUGAL From the centre of the country southwards, little or no signal is being received on dishes of 3 metres. In Coimbra, a 1.5m will give a just-about adequate signal with no rain margin. In Villa Real, in the north, 1.8m works OK. The Algarve is a BBC disaster zone. Nothing on any size dish, even 3 metres and up.
SPAIN The lower third of the country has lost all BBC. Dishes of 3 metres are receiving no signal in Costa Del Sol. Most dishes in the Málaga region are 1.2m (1.3m vertically) which will just get the Europe beam used by Sky's pay channels. However, no BBC, ITV, Channel Four and associated channels will be received, even with a Sky subscription. The only ITV channels which can be received are ITV 2,3,4 in HD as part of the Sky HD pack. The cut off point seems to be around Mojájar. To the north, some dishes are still working. To the south, there are no reports of any dish of any size still receiving the BBC. In Quesada, 1.8m is OK, as is a 1.9m in Alicante. In Benidorm, 1.2m is OK. Mazarrón seems to be OK with 1.8m. A 2.4m in this region gives good rain margin. In Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque country, many dishes have stopped working. 1.2m to 1.5m may now be needed. In León, a 1.5 receives nothing, as does an 80cm in Vitoria-Gasteiz. In the Balearics, many dishes are still working. Barcelona and Catalunya are now in a dead spot, with no measureable signal. Previously, 80-90cm dishes were used. The signal starts to appear again south of Tarragona, and north of the French border, but nothing in between.
Over the past few days, transmission of UK "free" channels, from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, has been moved to a new satellite, Astra 2E. It has a stronger, more UK-focussed footprint, which should improve reception on the South East coast of England, the north eastern fringes of East Anglia, the North East of Scotland and the Shetland Isles.
However, it means blank screens in many parts of southern and central Europe, where people will have to buy a bigger dish - or find another cute way of getting "free" UK services.
Read this litany from SkyinMadrid:
GERMANY BBC channels have disappeared from the north around Hanover through Munich and to the Austrian border. Previously, 60 to 90cm dishes were enough. Dishes of around 120cm may be needed. This is guesswork, no-one needed dishes this big before.
POLAND A 1.0m dish has lost BBC near the German border, 100km east from Berlin.
ITALY No BBC for most in the centre and south. 1.5m is OK in Verona, 1.25m in Milan. Between this area and Rome, 1.8 to 2.5 metres. Further south, in Potenza, Basilicata (well south of Rome), a monster 3.4 metre Prodelin dish is receiving the the UK Spot beam.
FRANCE Large scale losses from the southernmost quarter of the country. Typically dishes have been 80-90cm in the past. In some areas, a re-tune and a better LNB will get the signals back, but with little rain margin. A 120cm. may be needed. Near the border with Catalunya, the signal is worse. There is a report of a well-tuned 90 cm retaining the BBC between Cannes and Nice, but many reports of BBC loss in the region, roughly in a line drawn eastwards and westwards north of Toulouse.
GREECE Complete loss of BBC in all reports.
NORTH AFRICA Tunisia and Tangiers, loss of BBC on 2 metre dishes. Perhaps surprisingly, the BBC was easy to receive in N. Africa.
SWEDEN Losses on 1.2m dishes. 1.5 to 1.8m may be needed in most parts of the country.
NORWAY Dishes of 90cm used to be OK in the south, but not now. Upgrades to 120cm may be needed. CANARIES Dishes of 2.4 to 3.2 now necessary. A good quality, and expensive, 2.4m ChannelMaster type is needed with a top quality LNB. Reports of BBC loss on 3.2m dishes in Tenerife.
PORTUGAL From the centre of the country southwards, little or no signal is being received on dishes of 3 metres. In Coimbra, a 1.5m will give a just-about adequate signal with no rain margin. In Villa Real, in the north, 1.8m works OK. The Algarve is a BBC disaster zone. Nothing on any size dish, even 3 metres and up.
SPAIN The lower third of the country has lost all BBC. Dishes of 3 metres are receiving no signal in Costa Del Sol. Most dishes in the Málaga region are 1.2m (1.3m vertically) which will just get the Europe beam used by Sky's pay channels. However, no BBC, ITV, Channel Four and associated channels will be received, even with a Sky subscription. The only ITV channels which can be received are ITV 2,3,4 in HD as part of the Sky HD pack. The cut off point seems to be around Mojájar. To the north, some dishes are still working. To the south, there are no reports of any dish of any size still receiving the BBC. In Quesada, 1.8m is OK, as is a 1.9m in Alicante. In Benidorm, 1.2m is OK. Mazarrón seems to be OK with 1.8m. A 2.4m in this region gives good rain margin. In Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque country, many dishes have stopped working. 1.2m to 1.5m may now be needed. In León, a 1.5 receives nothing, as does an 80cm in Vitoria-Gasteiz. In the Balearics, many dishes are still working. Barcelona and Catalunya are now in a dead spot, with no measureable signal. Previously, 80-90cm dishes were used. The signal starts to appear again south of Tarragona, and north of the French border, but nothing in between.
Friday, February 7, 2014
One step forward...
The Dorset breakfast opt-out of Radio Solent is to get a new host - Steve Harris, a man, moves in, from the Solent drivetime show, replacing Alina Jenkins, a woman.
The main Solent breakfast is presented by Julian Clegg, with Simon Jupp standing in today.
The main Solent breakfast is presented by Julian Clegg, with Simon Jupp standing in today.
Sitting
The end of an interesting week for former BBC DG Mark Thompson. After saying sorry for giving the impression the Digital Media Initiative was unstoppable ('cos that's what he thought) to MPs, he headed back to the New York Times to report on his first set of annual figures.
They aren't bad - revenue from digital only subscriptions is up 36%, to $149m. There are signs the steady decline in income from print advertising is slowing down. Money, including that made from the sale of the Boston Globe, is being invested in new money-making ideas, like "native" advertising, with online content created by the advertising team and sponsoring companies.
The Daily Mail claims that Thommo, unlike George Entwistle, will have a portrait to mark his tenure as DG. and says the BBC is prepared to stump up £20,000 (£5k up from that spent on Messrs Dyke and Birt). (3.30pm update from a BBC spokesman: "We haven't commissioned anything and there is no immediate rush to do so.") Let's hope he picks a British artist, so as not to annoy the Mail further; Thommo and Mrs Thommo are still listed as supporting The Art Room charity in Oxford.
As for the pose, this may be how many will remember him, whether it's fair or not.
They aren't bad - revenue from digital only subscriptions is up 36%, to $149m. There are signs the steady decline in income from print advertising is slowing down. Money, including that made from the sale of the Boston Globe, is being invested in new money-making ideas, like "native" advertising, with online content created by the advertising team and sponsoring companies.
The Daily Mail claims that Thommo, unlike George Entwistle, will have a portrait to mark his tenure as DG. and says the BBC is prepared to stump up £20,000 (£5k up from that spent on Messrs Dyke and Birt). (3.30pm update from a BBC spokesman: "We haven't commissioned anything and there is no immediate rush to do so.") Let's hope he picks a British artist, so as not to annoy the Mail further; Thommo and Mrs Thommo are still listed as supporting The Art Room charity in Oxford.
As for the pose, this may be how many will remember him, whether it's fair or not.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
A lack of "space for reasoned arguments"
I can find no "professional" reports of BBC HR Director Lucy Adams' performance at the "HR Summit" in Birmingham yesterday.
There's this admiring analysis by Ian Pettigrew of Kingfisher Coaching - some extracts:
In a process of trying to balance shareholders and organisational needs (whilst working to save significant levels of money), Lucy now believed that she should have pushed harder to make sure that stakeholder voices were heard throughout this process.
Lucy regrets that there wasn’t more space to make reasoned arguments but made a great point that when you are paid good money to do a senior role, you have to make a judgement call and then live with the consequences, accepting that we won’t get every one right.
Lucy suggested that the HR doesn’t have an exclusive role as the conscience of the organisation, suggesting that sits with the head of the organisation, but that HR should challenge and help to make sure that all viewpoints are considered.
There's this admiring analysis by Ian Pettigrew of Kingfisher Coaching - some extracts:
In a process of trying to balance shareholders and organisational needs (whilst working to save significant levels of money), Lucy now believed that she should have pushed harder to make sure that stakeholder voices were heard throughout this process.
Lucy regrets that there wasn’t more space to make reasoned arguments but made a great point that when you are paid good money to do a senior role, you have to make a judgement call and then live with the consequences, accepting that we won’t get every one right.
Lucy suggested that the HR doesn’t have an exclusive role as the conscience of the organisation, suggesting that sits with the head of the organisation, but that HR should challenge and help to make sure that all viewpoints are considered.
- 2pm update: There's also this report, from the blog of People Management, the organ of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
