When BBC Head of Religion Ernie Rea, a Presbyterian minister, suddenly announced he was taking early retirement in 2001, there was a struggle to find a replacement. TV factual producer Alan Bookbinder was persuaded to apply. Jim Moir, the Controller of Radio 2, interviewed him for the job, he took one glance and said: “Good. You look like a head of religion.” Unfortunately, Alan, the product of a Jewish-Catholic marriage, was "an open-hearted agnostic".
Presumably the dons of Downing College, Cambridge thought Alan looked sufficiently like a Master for them to give him the job, which he takes up in October 2018.
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Trained up
If you can wait til July next year, you can take a peak into the box of delights that is Valerie Hughes D'Aeth's BBC HR leadership style - for a mere £849. She's a key speaker at Evershed-Sutherland's Future-Ready HR Summer School, a one-day event at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Great Park. Just ahead of the next Annual Report....
Celtic fringes
It's all go in the BBC Nations. New jingles for Radio Scotland.....
Meanwhile Auntie has re-announced that Radio Cymru 2 will launch on January 29th - previously announced in June. It will (as promised before) bring us "a fun-filled, music-based breakfast show" - seven days a week. It may be that Rhodri Talfan Davies needed something for a big speech in Bangor. Surely by now we need some presenter names...
Meanwhile Auntie has re-announced that Radio Cymru 2 will launch on January 29th - previously announced in June. It will (as promised before) bring us "a fun-filled, music-based breakfast show" - seven days a week. It may be that Rhodri Talfan Davies needed something for a big speech in Bangor. Surely by now we need some presenter names...
Burns night
In the UK Carousel of Media Governance, Lord Burns has magically reappeared from a spinning tea-cup as chair-elect of Ofcom.Baron Burns of Pitshanger, 73 (Houghton-le-Spring Grammar and Manchester University), a former long-time Treasury civil servant ('Teflon Terry'), is still a senior advisor to Santander, has a farm in Powys, is a non-exec of the Office for Budget Responsibility, and a vice-president of the Royal Academy of Music. He has been involved in a range of Government reviews - in 2005, he recommended the abolition of the BBC Governors and suggested top-slicing the licence fee; he looked at hunting with dogs and re-structuring the FA. That all went well.
He was Chairman of Channel 4 for six years, fending off Government attempts at privatisation.
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Woebegone
...and now Garrison Keillor has been fired for offering a colleague at Minnesota Public Radio more companionship than a prairie home can apparently tolerate. He was trying to console her...
"I meant to pat her back after she told me about her unhappiness, and her shirt was open and my hand went up it about six inches. She recoiled. I apologized. I sent her an email of apology later and she replied that she had forgiven me and not to think about it. We were friends. We continued to be friendly right up until her lawyer called.”
"I meant to pat her back after she told me about her unhappiness, and her shirt was open and my hand went up it about six inches. She recoiled. I apologized. I sent her an email of apology later and she replied that she had forgiven me and not to think about it. We were friends. We continued to be friendly right up until her lawyer called.”
Skittles
Another big beast of US TV has gone - Matt Lauer, thought to be on $25m a year, has been fired from NBC Today. And the decision was fast, with the complaint apparently only received on Monday night.
Meanwhile NPR has suddenly parted company with Chief News Editor David Sweeney, after at least three complaints.Matt Lauer has been terminated from NBC News. On Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer. As a result, we’ve decided to terminate his employment. pic.twitter.com/1A3UAZpvPb— TODAY (@TODAYshow) November 29, 2017
Moving the goal posts
BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios are to merge - and it looks like there'll be 'efficiencies' all round.
Tim Davie becomes CEO of the new joint operation, with Mark Linsey dubbed Chief Creative Officer. Other 'board' members of both groups will now be more than a little jittery. We are told that the new body will employ around 3,000 permanent staff. BBC Worldwide currently employs 1,700; we were told BBC Studios started operations in April this year with around 2,000.
Dosh
The Star has details of the cost of 'Operation Kaddie', disclosed under Freedom of Information rules. The fruitless investigation into allegations against Sir Cliff Richard cost South Yorkshire Police £788,733.84, with £766,844.58 spent on staff (20 officers worked on the case over the lifetime of the operation.) £10,867.99 was spent on hotels, £5,758.48 on hire cars, £1,553.10 on train tickets and £554.50 on other travel costs. There was another £3,155.19 of 'miscellaneous' expenditure.
This is all on top of "substantial general and aggravated damages" paid to Sir Cliff (estimated by the Mirror at above £1m) and the Force's legal costs.
There's still no sign of Sir Cliff v The BBC coming back into court. Way back in May, Mr Justice Mann gave both parties a month off to see if they could reach a settlement out of court.
This is all on top of "substantial general and aggravated damages" paid to Sir Cliff (estimated by the Mirror at above £1m) and the Force's legal costs.
There's still no sign of Sir Cliff v The BBC coming back into court. Way back in May, Mr Justice Mann gave both parties a month off to see if they could reach a settlement out of court.
Unwrapped
Here's a challenge for the Radio Times and newspaper supplements - if this is to be the way forward, let's have a regular updated guide to what we can still watch. There is a risk, of course, that this sort of release might impact a BBC subscription model, clearly under consideration as Worldwide seeks a deal to buy back all of UKTV. One suggestion - how about making the back catalogue (of built programmes at least) available for a rolling twelve months, rather than a month - to match the licence fee ?
Taboo
Line of Duty
Three Girls
Undercover
Happy Valley
Wolf Hall
Peaky Blinders
Feud: Bette and Joan
Clique
Thirteen
Sherlock - Series 3, 4 and The Abominable Bride
Planet Earth I and II
Blue Planet I and II
Frozen Planet
Fleabag
Inside Number 9
Miranda
Josh - Series 2 & 3
Murder in Successville - Series 3
People Just Do Nothing - Series 4
Gavin & Stacey - Series 1 and Christmas Special
Cuckoo - Series 1, 2, 3 and Christmas Special
This Country - Series 1
Bad Education - Series 2 and Christmas Special
Him and Her - Series 3 and Christmas Special
Bluestone 42 - Series 1 and Christmas Special
Uncle - Series 3
The Mighty Boosh - Series 1
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
All By Myself
There's a small amount of huffin' and puffin' from old timers about the promotion of Emma Barnett at Five Live, billed in The Times as "the first woman to present a solo show on Radio 5 Live, which was dubbed “Radio Bloke” after the departure of Victoria Derbyshire." I'm not sure it's wrong; I think the modifier is 'after the departure of Victoria Derbyshire' - she left the station in September 2014, hardly an aeon ago.
In the original 1994 weekday line-up only three presenters had their names on the mastheads - Midday with [Eddie] Mair, [Sybil] Ruscoe on Five, and [John] Inverdale Nationwide. Diana Madill presented 'The Magazine'.
I'd be more upset at two other inelegancies in The Times piece. "We meet in the Westminster radio studio where from January The Emma Barnett Show will be broadcast most mornings on Radio 5 Live." Surely Knutsford-based Controller Jonathan Wall hasn't shifted his views on London-based talent ?
And in the sub-head we find "now Emma Barnett is taking over Adrian Chiles’s prime time slot on Radio 5". She may be nicking a shift from him, but until I hear a jingle going "The Emma Barnett Show - today with Adrian Chiles", it's a hardly a major takeover.
In the original 1994 weekday line-up only three presenters had their names on the mastheads - Midday with [Eddie] Mair, [Sybil] Ruscoe on Five, and [John] Inverdale Nationwide. Diana Madill presented 'The Magazine'.
I'd be more upset at two other inelegancies in The Times piece. "We meet in the Westminster radio studio where from January The Emma Barnett Show will be broadcast most mornings on Radio 5 Live." Surely Knutsford-based Controller Jonathan Wall hasn't shifted his views on London-based talent ?
And in the sub-head we find "now Emma Barnett is taking over Adrian Chiles’s prime time slot on Radio 5". She may be nicking a shift from him, but until I hear a jingle going "The Emma Barnett Show - today with Adrian Chiles", it's a hardly a major takeover.
Erased
No mention at all of the BBC years in Baroness Fairhead's maiden speech to the Lords yesterday evening. In fact, she talked about turning to public service now as if it were for the first time..
Block work
The stuttering production line of the BBC Arts flagship Imagine brings a new episode to BBC2 this Saturday - looking at the work of Rachel Whiteread. It's called Ghost in the Room, referring to her 1990 breakthrough casting of a single room from the inside. There's not much obvious opportunity for international travel for editor/presenter Alan Yentob - unless, of course, he visits Ghost where it now resides in Washington.
The BBC paid Rachel £54,000 in 2003 to make a plaster, wood and metal cast of the inside of Room 101 at Broadcasting House before it was demolished as part of the site-wide re-development. That block was acquired for the Pompidou Centre in 2009 - I can find no record of how much they paid, and to whom.
The BBC paid Rachel £54,000 in 2003 to make a plaster, wood and metal cast of the inside of Room 101 at Broadcasting House before it was demolished as part of the site-wide re-development. That block was acquired for the Pompidou Centre in 2009 - I can find no record of how much they paid, and to whom.
Monday, November 27, 2017
My show
Radio 5 Live drops the title 5 Live Daily from its mid-morning show in the New Year; it becomes The Emma Barnett Show, at least from Monday to Thursday. Emma started with the Daily programme in September 2016, covering Wednesday to Friday, with Adrian Chiles in the chair Monday and Tuesday - one presumes Adrian moves to Friday in 2018. Emma quite likes Westminster politics - I wonder how many shows will be presented from Salford.
Excited to share some personal news: my @bbc5live show is being expanded across the week. From Jan 8th - ‘The Emma Barnett Show’ will be Monday to Thurs 10am-1pm. More sparky interviews with nuns, politicians & sheep guaranteed. 📻More in today’s @thetimes https://t.co/m61GozIZWg pic.twitter.com/4qCLT7xpQM— Emma Barnett (@Emmabarnett) November 27, 2017
Savings plan
In May 2015 I set up an imaginary Whittingdale ISA, putting an imaginary £3k each into five media companies that might have expected to do well under a Conservative Culture Secretary. The portfolio was Sky, ITV, BT, Trinity Mirror and Johnston Press. Today, the portfolio is trading at 50% of its opening value. Over the same period, the FTSE 100 has risen from 6,960 to 7,416.
Sunday, November 26, 2017
Complaining
In the regulatory pasodoble-thon that is now the new way of working between the BBC and Ofcom, Ofcom has issued its first bulletin listing complaints about BBC Online content - though, under the new Charter, it has no enforcement powers. It will only consider complaints for further investigation if they have already been through the BBC's own processes.
In this Bulletin Number 1, 14 people sought further remedy from Ofcom - 13 were rebuffed, but in one case, Ofcom thinks the complaint raises "potentially substantive issues under the relevant BBC editorial guidelines". It's a James Landale piece from January about leadership of the Commonwealth, featuring the shy, retiring Baroness Scotland.
In this Bulletin Number 1, 14 people sought further remedy from Ofcom - 13 were rebuffed, but in one case, Ofcom thinks the complaint raises "potentially substantive issues under the relevant BBC editorial guidelines". It's a James Landale piece from January about leadership of the Commonwealth, featuring the shy, retiring Baroness Scotland.
Clerical error
Uber-broadcaster Clare Balding has tweeted that today's edition of "Good Morning Sunday" on Radio 2 is her last.
Which doesn't seem to have got through to the compilers of Radio 2's schedules, who have her down to present the "topical faith show" next Sunday.
Which doesn't seem to have got through to the compilers of Radio 2's schedules, who have her down to present the "topical faith show" next Sunday.
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Have Faith
The Craig David-co-hosted Sounds Like Friday Night, on BBC1, was watched by an average audience of 1.89m according to the overnight ratings - that represents a 10.5% share of those watching tv across the 7.30pm slot.
Next week another hard-to-get booking - Paloma Faith.
Next week another hard-to-get booking - Paloma Faith.
Gibbo
Head down from Broadcasting House, across Oxford Street, and down Argyll Street, and you'll find another potential candidate to replace James Harding as BBC Director of News. At the London offices of Buzzfeed (with views of the London Palladium) you'll find Janine Gibson, flitting between meeting rooms named after biscuits - Hobnob, Bourbon, Jammie Dodger, etc.
Janine, 45 (Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks and St John's College, Oxford), was a strong favourite to succeed Alan Rusbridger at The Guardian, but lost out in the staff vote to Kath Viner. After 17 Guardian years, she departed for Buzzfeed in 2015. The site is now regularly featured in the Today review of papers and websites. The London operation has close to 200 staff - BBC News has just under 7,000. Buzzfeed collaborated with Newsnight on investigations into Kids Company, and with BBC News on allegations of match-fixing in tennis.
Whilst running the Guardian's online presence in the USA, Janine worked with Glenn Greenwald on the National Security Agency leaks from computer analyst Edward Snowden. She was tapped up by former DG Mark Thompson to head up digital stuff for the New York Times - Thommo parted company with editor Jill Abramson in the ensuing row. Has Lord Hall now come calling ?
Janine, 45 (Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks and St John's College, Oxford), was a strong favourite to succeed Alan Rusbridger at The Guardian, but lost out in the staff vote to Kath Viner. After 17 Guardian years, she departed for Buzzfeed in 2015. The site is now regularly featured in the Today review of papers and websites. The London operation has close to 200 staff - BBC News has just under 7,000. Buzzfeed collaborated with Newsnight on investigations into Kids Company, and with BBC News on allegations of match-fixing in tennis.
Whilst running the Guardian's online presence in the USA, Janine worked with Glenn Greenwald on the National Security Agency leaks from computer analyst Edward Snowden. She was tapped up by former DG Mark Thompson to head up digital stuff for the New York Times - Thommo parted company with editor Jill Abramson in the ensuing row. Has Lord Hall now come calling ?
Closer
There's been so-far-unexplained disruption to the overnight ratings delivery over past couple of days.
From Thursday night, we note the closest figures for the two 10 o'clock news bulletins for some time. The BBC1 version was watched by an average of 3.48m (21.8% share). ITV rated 3.04m (19.1% share), much boosted by the preceding I'm A Celebrity's 8.3m.
From Thursday night, we note the closest figures for the two 10 o'clock news bulletins for some time. The BBC1 version was watched by an average of 3.48m (21.8% share). ITV rated 3.04m (19.1% share), much boosted by the preceding I'm A Celebrity's 8.3m.
Friday, November 24, 2017
Clarity
Previous holder of the post was James Heath, on £155k a year - he's now turned up at the DCMS, as director of telecoms policy. Presumably it's only a matter of time before the transparent BBC adds Clare's package to the list of those on over £150k.
If you've got the patience, enjoy the transcript of the CMA session with Clare and David Jordan, Director of Editorial Policy. The CMA wanted help on media plurality as they consider the Sky/Fox deal. Marvel at how our heroes tap-dance round the big questions. BBC News services reached three quarters of the adult population of the UK every week in 2016/17 - does that not raise issues of plurality; and the question of agenda-setting - is it something that the Today programme does, or not ?
Chartbusters
Two of my favourite people feature in a new list of Top HR Influencers - Lucy Adams, former BBC HR Director who says that old HR practices are all wrong, and Valerie Hughes D'Aeth, current BBC HR Director who likes doing things by the books - some old, some new.
Also in the list, from employee rewards website Perkbox, is Dr. Mee-Yan Cheung Judge, brought into the BBC under John Birt in the 1990s to lead confrontation of deep-seated diversity issues. Maybe they should have kept her on...
Also in the list, from employee rewards website Perkbox, is Dr. Mee-Yan Cheung Judge, brought into the BBC under John Birt in the 1990s to lead confrontation of deep-seated diversity issues. Maybe they should have kept her on...
Diva
Move over Katherine Jenkins. Culture Secretary Karen Bradley wows them at the British Embassy in Rome....
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Eyeballs
We're all watching a tad more telly because we can do it by live streaming or catch-up on PCs and tablets, according to new research from BARB.
"Across all individuals, including those without a TV set, viewing on PCs and tablets delivers incremental reach of 2% on TV set viewing in the week. As you might expect, this differs by age group, with 16-34s adding nearly 4% to their weekly reach totals. For children aged 4-15, computer device viewing delivers incremental reach of 1.5%, while there is a similar uplift (1.6%) for adults aged 35-54."
"Across all individuals, including those without a TV set, viewing on PCs and tablets delivers incremental reach of 2% on TV set viewing in the week. As you might expect, this differs by age group, with 16-34s adding nearly 4% to their weekly reach totals. For children aged 4-15, computer device viewing delivers incremental reach of 1.5%, while there is a similar uplift (1.6%) for adults aged 35-54."
Jimbob
I still wonder how James Purnell, BBC Director of Radio & Education, and Bob Shennan, BBC Director of Radio & Music, carve up their duties.
For yesterday's launch of network radio festive offerings, Bob got all the quotes in the press release; James got to host the hacks. A total of £566k pa of management heft.
Perhaps they've formed a common bond over football. Bob supports Liverpool FC; Jim's a Gooner - on and off the field.
Perhaps they've formed a common bond over football. Bob supports Liverpool FC; Jim's a Gooner - on and off the field.
Marked Dalglish once - decided to stop him w/ my most agricultural defending, injured myself, hobbled off, game over https://t.co/8dpxyB0I93— James Purnell (@jimpurnell) November 16, 2017
Selective
One year into the BBC News push on vertical video (for those who can't get the knack of twisting their mobiles), there's been a briefing on progress to Digiday.
We are told the number of visitors coming to the news app (vertical available from July 2017) to watch video has risen 30 percent, while the number of videos viewed per user has grown by 20 percent. And those who watch vertical video typically visit three times more frequently than those who don’t. You'll note these figures don't include absolute numbers. Apparently 20 people work on creating, sourcing and formatting the 'Videos of the Day', reduced from the original plan of 'Ten-to-watch' to seven items, none much longer than 90 seconds, all watchable without sound thanks to subtitles.
Many competitors (and other BBC departments) would raise eyebrows at the size of the team; you might guess at annual running costs around a couple of million. There's a mild question or two about the editorial focus: this morning's seven are "The $60 coffee" (from BBC News Online two days ago); "Tampon Tax"; "North Korean soldier defects" (from yesterday); "Mladic jailed for life" (from 0900 yesterday); "How do you teach a car to drive ?"; "Naked Dining in Paris" (restaurant opened on November 4th); "Red carpet corgis" (from Tuesday night). It sort of suggests there's no 24-hour working in the unit. Yesterday we had equally vital pieces about Victoria's Secret underwear show in China, and X-Factor rapper of last year, Honey G.
BBC.com is allowed to place ads with the vertical videos. One might wonder if the briefing was a little defensive, as BBC News looks for £80m cuts over the coming years. Certainly it would be helpful to know some absolute numbers.
We are told the number of visitors coming to the news app (vertical available from July 2017) to watch video has risen 30 percent, while the number of videos viewed per user has grown by 20 percent. And those who watch vertical video typically visit three times more frequently than those who don’t. You'll note these figures don't include absolute numbers. Apparently 20 people work on creating, sourcing and formatting the 'Videos of the Day', reduced from the original plan of 'Ten-to-watch' to seven items, none much longer than 90 seconds, all watchable without sound thanks to subtitles.
Many competitors (and other BBC departments) would raise eyebrows at the size of the team; you might guess at annual running costs around a couple of million. There's a mild question or two about the editorial focus: this morning's seven are "The $60 coffee" (from BBC News Online two days ago); "Tampon Tax"; "North Korean soldier defects" (from yesterday); "Mladic jailed for life" (from 0900 yesterday); "How do you teach a car to drive ?"; "Naked Dining in Paris" (restaurant opened on November 4th); "Red carpet corgis" (from Tuesday night). It sort of suggests there's no 24-hour working in the unit. Yesterday we had equally vital pieces about Victoria's Secret underwear show in China, and X-Factor rapper of last year, Honey G.
BBC.com is allowed to place ads with the vertical videos. One might wonder if the briefing was a little defensive, as BBC News looks for £80m cuts over the coming years. Certainly it would be helpful to know some absolute numbers.
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Drama queens
How many ex-BBC people does it need to make a drama series for ITV?
Clearly seeking some more post-Downton options, ITV are reported to have commissioned a version of Amanda Foreman's book, Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire. BBC Films backed a version, The Duchess, starring Keira Knightley, back in 2008.
Now, Baby Cow productions, led by former BBC Films boss Christine Langan (executive producer on The Duchess), has teamed with Bad Wolf productions, led by former BBC Drama producers Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner, for a series, to be written by former BBC2 Controller, Janice Hadlow. Neat.
Meanwhile, if you're interested in historical mysteries, consider this Tweet today from Amanda Foreman...
Clearly seeking some more post-Downton options, ITV are reported to have commissioned a version of Amanda Foreman's book, Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire. BBC Films backed a version, The Duchess, starring Keira Knightley, back in 2008.
Now, Baby Cow productions, led by former BBC Films boss Christine Langan (executive producer on The Duchess), has teamed with Bad Wolf productions, led by former BBC Drama producers Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner, for a series, to be written by former BBC2 Controller, Janice Hadlow. Neat.
Meanwhile, if you're interested in historical mysteries, consider this Tweet today from Amanda Foreman...
I always suspected I was being punished by a certain individual, that the doors of his media kingdom were closed to me unless or until I put out for him. I couldn’t prove it though. Thank you to the women who spoke up and exposed him.— Amanda Foreman (@DrAmandaForeman) November 22, 2017
Hire to fire
"Please note that this role requires an immediate start."
The BBC is looking for an HR Specialist 'Case Manager' on short-term fixed contract until March next year. They must have decided that the spike of 25 'live' bullying and harassment cases needs more effort. The finish date of the contract looks optimistic, given how long HR have been taking over previous cases.
The BBC is looking for an HR Specialist 'Case Manager' on short-term fixed contract until March next year. They must have decided that the spike of 25 'live' bullying and harassment cases needs more effort. The finish date of the contract looks optimistic, given how long HR have been taking over previous cases.
Belatedly
Thanks to whoever nudged the BBC governance machine, we now have Board Minutes from July.
Not much to report, apart from the Directors taking a live interest in attracting yoof audiences.
"As with all adults, time spent with BBC television among16-34s was very strong, rising by 3% year-on-year. Directors discussed the type of programming which was proving popular among this age group and requested that a session on the associated strategy be scheduled."
The Board also approved plans to revise the corporation's Editorial Guidelines - last revisited in 2010. As in 2010, there will follow a public consultation. In that update an element of proportionality was introduced around privacy - ‘the greater the intrusion, the greater the public interest required to justify it’. Perhaps this time there'll be something about using helicopters to look through the windows of houses under police search.
For those of you hungry for news about the progress of BBC Studios, there was an update from COO Anna Mallet, entirely redacted for commercial confidentiality.
Not much to report, apart from the Directors taking a live interest in attracting yoof audiences.
"As with all adults, time spent with BBC television among16-34s was very strong, rising by 3% year-on-year. Directors discussed the type of programming which was proving popular among this age group and requested that a session on the associated strategy be scheduled."
The Board also approved plans to revise the corporation's Editorial Guidelines - last revisited in 2010. As in 2010, there will follow a public consultation. In that update an element of proportionality was introduced around privacy - ‘the greater the intrusion, the greater the public interest required to justify it’. Perhaps this time there'll be something about using helicopters to look through the windows of houses under police search.
For those of you hungry for news about the progress of BBC Studios, there was an update from COO Anna Mallet, entirely redacted for commercial confidentiality.
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
More
Never mind Aled Jones in UK, the news from the States of the suspension of 75-year-old Charlie Rose from CBS and his nightly show on PBS is a shock. His trademark has been the urbane, civilised interview.
Meanwhile, it's something of a mystery back home that Aled and 5Live's George Riley are the only two of the 25 'live' cases at the BBC that have come to public attention.
Meanwhile, it's something of a mystery back home that Aled and 5Live's George Riley are the only two of the 25 'live' cases at the BBC that have come to public attention.
Decade
And, at the tail of last night's Newsnight, Emily Maitlis cheerily read the autocue which said Princess Elizabeth got married in 1937, at the time of the continuing civil war in Spain....
Whoops! We gave the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh an extra 10 years of marriage. It was of course 1947 - sorry pic.twitter.com/zabvBrb8Ez— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) November 20, 2017
Monday, November 20, 2017
Youngish
As the BBC ponders best how it might get yoof back watching BBC1, the return of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here to ITV last night was watched by 2.96m in the 16-to-34 age group - 73% of that demographic who were watching any telly at the time.
Numbers
Quite rightly, the BBC has a number of reporters in Zimbabwe. They include new Africa Editor Fergal Keane; old hand Andrew Harding; Anne Soy from Nairobi; Stanley Kwenda, multimedia journalist for World Service; and Harare-based Shingai Nyoka. Also on site is BBC News channel presenter, Ben Brown.
A year ago, as a cost-cutting measure, BBC News bosses ruled that presenters from the News Channel, Newsnight and BBC Breakfast were no longer to be deployed abroad on big stories.
A year ago, as a cost-cutting measure, BBC News bosses ruled that presenters from the News Channel, Newsnight and BBC Breakfast were no longer to be deployed abroad on big stories.
Xmas present ?
For just £55 you could get a ticket to hear the BBC's Director of Studios, Mark Linsey, talk about "The Culture Change Journey" in February. The event is being organised by The Leaders Club ("Bringing Great Minds Together") at conference rooms just across Portland Place from Broadcasting House. Given Mark's attention to bottom-line opportunities, it's rather a surprise it's not in BH, so that Auntie could have taken a cut....
Mark, despite a degree in performing arts, is bringing COO Anna Mallett and HR boss Jabbar Sardar with him, to help fill the hour.
Mark, despite a degree in performing arts, is bringing COO Anna Mallett and HR boss Jabbar Sardar with him, to help fill the hour.
Circular
The old Rotunda building, bolted on the east side of the former BBC White City 1 building, has been bought by Rayners Lane muso Jai Paul.
The four-storey silver-clad circular lump was a building in search of a purpose during its BBC ownership - used as a dentist's surgery and then as a BBC staff bar. In fact, it was orginally designed to stand in front of the building's main entrance - as a hub for directing visitors to various parts of the site. Councillors, quite rightly, thought it misplaced and ugly. But, under the BBC's procurement route, it had all been paid-for and ordered, so it was wodged on land at the east side, and a short high-level corridor connected it to the rest of the building.
The circus tent of spikes atop the Rotunda act as a support for a metal globe, which was a piece of 'public art' required of the development - barely visible to anyone inside or outside.
The circus tent of spikes atop the Rotunda act as a support for a metal globe, which was a piece of 'public art' required of the development - barely visible to anyone inside or outside.
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Executive recruitment
In the absence of any real information, I fell to musing yesterday on the problems of attracting top quality candidates to pitch for BBC Director of News.
It ran like this. There is no longer a seat for this key function on the BBC's top board. This is despite News fulfilling most of the BBC's key purposes, and employing the vast majority of BBC staff (6596.6
equivalent full time continuing and fixed term employees in BBC News & Current
Affairs at 1st October. This does not include overseas
recruits, agency, freelancer and casuals - or staff working for the burgeoning BBC Global News Ltd).
James Harding was out of work when Lord Hall tapped him up. To tap up, say, Lionel Barber at the FT, you might have to make some more promises - perhaps even hint at preparation to follow Lord Hall as DG. Lionel, spookily, has been musing on the future of journalism at the Society of Editors conference. And Kath Viner, at The Guardian has produced a long read on "A mission for journalism in a time of crisis". You'd be forgiven for thinking they could be preparing a presentation for a big interview.
You might try turning to former BBC News executives Roger Mosey, 59 or Mark Damazer, 62. The problem is that, if you bring any these savvy types in, they'd want to be assured they were ahead of James Purnell in any new pecking order.
James Harding was out of work when Lord Hall tapped him up. To tap up, say, Lionel Barber at the FT, you might have to make some more promises - perhaps even hint at preparation to follow Lord Hall as DG. Lionel, spookily, has been musing on the future of journalism at the Society of Editors conference. And Kath Viner, at The Guardian has produced a long read on "A mission for journalism in a time of crisis". You'd be forgiven for thinking they could be preparing a presentation for a big interview.
You might try turning to former BBC News executives Roger Mosey, 59 or Mark Damazer, 62. The problem is that, if you bring any these savvy types in, they'd want to be assured they were ahead of James Purnell in any new pecking order.
When do we want it ?
Now.
Some of this blog relies on big organisations' commitment to transparency.
There's been no publication of BBC Board minutes since June. There's been no publication of Ofcom Content Board minutes since March. BBC senior manager's expenses, once updated quarterly, are frozen in time at Quarter 4 2016/17.
There should be a new Chair of Ofcom by now.
Give us a break.
Some of this blog relies on big organisations' commitment to transparency.
There's been no publication of BBC Board minutes since June. There's been no publication of Ofcom Content Board minutes since March. BBC senior manager's expenses, once updated quarterly, are frozen in time at Quarter 4 2016/17.
There should be a new Chair of Ofcom by now.
Give us a break.
Friday, November 17, 2017
Streaming The Queen
Yanks starved of access to British culture by the scheduling policies of BBC Star Trek America may like to consider a switch to the streaming services of Britbox, which has just launched "Britmas".
Subscribers ($6.99 a month) will get near simultaneous re-broadcasts of The Queen's Christmas Message and Carols from King's. Other delights on offer in December include archive Christmas specials from The Office, Only Fools and Horses and Upstairs Downstairs.
Largesse
Jonty and the boys have had a meeting at the BBC, and someone noticed that the re-imagined Civilisation series (re-imagined by making it plural) hadn't got a 'partnership'. So now there's an invitation to all the UK's museums, galleries and libraries to take part in a Civilisations Festival, to run alongside transmission of the the new series in March next year.
But these are straightened times, and the partnership fund is £10k. And 100 institutions have already signed up.....you do the maths.
But these are straightened times, and the partnership fund is £10k. And 100 institutions have already signed up.....you do the maths.
Thursday, November 16, 2017
I counted them all in......
NB: Figures include, but are not limited to, editorial complaints, and are not comparable with complaint figures published by Ofcom about other broadcasters (which are calculated on a different basis). The number of complaints received is not an indication of how serious an issue is.
Oldies but goldies
A week ago I wrote about how the BBC is considering new ways of accessing its back catalogue, currently with much of the good stuff assigned to UKTV, operated in 50/50 partnership with Scripps TV.
Now The Telegraph tells us that BBC Worldwide finance people are on the hunt for investors to help with a buy-out of the Scripps share. Scripps are currently being bought out by Discovery - and the BBC has first option on buying back its half of UKTV. Then, perhaps, follows the trickier implementation of paid-for-streaming via some yet-to-be-defined cousin of the iPlayer - a potentially dangerous thin-end-of-the-wedge towards a BBC-funded-just-by-subscription.
(Enough dashes - Ed)
Now The Telegraph tells us that BBC Worldwide finance people are on the hunt for investors to help with a buy-out of the Scripps share. Scripps are currently being bought out by Discovery - and the BBC has first option on buying back its half of UKTV. Then, perhaps, follows the trickier implementation of paid-for-streaming via some yet-to-be-defined cousin of the iPlayer - a potentially dangerous thin-end-of-the-wedge towards a BBC-funded-just-by-subscription.
(Enough dashes - Ed)
Bailiffs
Norwegian raider Christen Ager-Hanssen, bidding to wrest full control of Johnston Press, is still being tracked by the marvellously-named Kronofogdemyndigheten. This is the Swedish tax enforcement agency, and today they calculate that, with interest, Christen owes them some £1.6m from taxes unpaid over three years around the year 2000. Mr Ager-Hanssen has threatened to counter-sue for "incorrect handling of the case".
Winding down
BBC Director of News James Harding spent a night at The National Theatre courtesy of Radio 3's Free Thinking, reviewing the stage version of Network. He said he chortled all the way through, and thought Bryan 'Mad Men' Cranston would be a great booking as a newsreader.
He also confessed he'd never seen the original Sidney Lumet movie from 1976. Extraordinary.
He also confessed he'd never seen the original Sidney Lumet movie from 1976. Extraordinary.
Is this news ?
The Sun has been supplied with a range of snaps taken on the basement newsroom floor at Broadcasting House, which all feature employees asleep at their desks. They were reportedly taken by a colleague on nightshifts over the four years since 2013....and, at time of writing, feature as the online lead for the Sun's website.
If we'd had phone cameras earlier, who knows how many albums might have been filled during the last century ?
If we'd had phone cameras earlier, who knows how many albums might have been filled during the last century ?
It’s true @TheSun we do sleep on the job. Our work is a bit taxing at times. @BBCNews doesn’t do lazy journalism. How about you? pic.twitter.com/5VBjL9zlEl— Quentin Sommerville (@sommervilletv) November 16, 2017
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Generosity
Without a hint of irony, Baroness Rona Fairhead of Yarm, former BBC chair and now Minister for Trade and Export Promotion, has announced funding for Public Service Broadcasting.
It's one of twelve popular music combos sharing the latest grants from a £2.4m fund to encourage music exports. Others include Ghostpoet, Zervas & Pepper and ROAM.
Public Service Broadcasting, currently on tour around Europe, specialise in instrumentals woven around themes from old public information films.
It's one of twelve popular music combos sharing the latest grants from a £2.4m fund to encourage music exports. Others include Ghostpoet, Zervas & Pepper and ROAM.
Public Service Broadcasting, currently on tour around Europe, specialise in instrumentals woven around themes from old public information films.
Configurable
This blog has oft complained that BBC job ads can be obscure. This takes this biscuit.
Tribepad is the BBC's chosen recruitment software, "with a completely brandable and configurable applicant journey".
Tribepad is the BBC's chosen recruitment software, "with a completely brandable and configurable applicant journey".
Bakhurst 1 Jordan 0
The Guardian says that the BBC has conceded to Ofcom's demand to publish numbers of complaints about programmes on a fortnightly basis. This resolves a stand off between David Jordan, the BBC's editorial policy boss (Latymer and Bristol) and Ofcom Witchfinder Kevin Bakhurst (Harberdashers' Aske's and St John's Cambridge) which has been going on since February.
This may or may not clear the air before a possible meeting between Lord Hall and Kevin. If Kevin has applied to be the new Director of BBC News, he's more or less guaranteed an interview. Internally, I hear 'selling' of positions in Newsgathering boss Jonathan Munro. More as we get it...
This may or may not clear the air before a possible meeting between Lord Hall and Kevin. If Kevin has applied to be the new Director of BBC News, he's more or less guaranteed an interview. Internally, I hear 'selling' of positions in Newsgathering boss Jonathan Munro. More as we get it...
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
More stocking fillers
The latest band to get the 'at the BBC' treatment is U2. Except the performances will be recorded at Abbey Road, now owned by Universal Music.
U2 record on the Island label, owned by Universal. Their new album, 'Songs of Experience' is out on December 1st.
Right Honourable
Does it matter that Alex Salmond, now partially funded by Russia, is a Privy Counsellor - for life ? He was appointed in 2007. Counsellors' functions include signing off Royal Charters - e.g.that which gives the BBC its existence.
Full meetings of the 600-odd councillors are only called on the accession of a new sovereign, or when an unmarried sovereign plans to get hitched.
I can't find any record of a Counsellor being sacked - Profumo, Stonehouse and Aitken offered their resignations.
Full meetings of the 600-odd councillors are only called on the accession of a new sovereign, or when an unmarried sovereign plans to get hitched.
I can't find any record of a Counsellor being sacked - Profumo, Stonehouse and Aitken offered their resignations.
Gong-ed to BBC2
The Sun has discovered that there will be a BBC Music Awards programme this year - but it'll form part of a review of the year, with a slot on BBC2.
The enterprise started as a live performance show in 2014, hosted by Chris Evans, with a BBC1 overnight audience of 3.9m. The following year produced overnights of 2.9m, then 2.2m.
The enterprise started as a live performance show in 2014, hosted by Chris Evans, with a BBC1 overnight audience of 3.9m. The following year produced overnights of 2.9m, then 2.2m.
- The co-host of the next Sounds Like Friday Night on BBC1 will be hard-to-get Craig David - the team get this week off for Children in Need
Monday, November 13, 2017
On points
Huw Edwards will be pleased. The newsreader attributes his new slenderer figure to hard work in the in Clinton McKenzie's boxing gym in East Dulwich. Now there are plans to set up a "boxing gym and boutique fitness studio" at 93 Mortimer Street, W1, a few Ali shuffles from Broadcasting House.
The project is the brainchild of American Manya Klempner. Plans for the redevelopment include a boxing ring with mezzanine and bar for fight fans. I think we can identify one potential contender for the opening bout...
The project is the brainchild of American Manya Klempner. Plans for the redevelopment include a boxing ring with mezzanine and bar for fight fans. I think we can identify one potential contender for the opening bout...
Tim Gudgin
Tim Gudgin, the unseen voice of results on BBC Grandstand for nearly 50 years, has died aged 87.
After Hardy’s School, Dorchester, Bishop Wordsworth’s, Salisbury and Whitgift School in Croydon, he went straight to National Service.....and, on discharge in 1949, succesfully applied to be an announcer with the British Forces' Network in Hamburg, trained by Robin Boyle.
He joined the BBC's European Service in 1952, and worked on the Light Programme/Radio 2 for almost 40 years, hosting Music Box, Top of the Form, Midday Spin, Housewives' Choice, Round the Bend, Saturday Night at the Light, News Time, Swingalong, Out and About, Treble Chance, Melody Hour, Radio 2 Top Tunes, The Late Show and You and the Night and the Music.
Odder gigs included a role as "Chairman" in a tv commercial for Square Deal Surf, and narrating Bleep and Booster on Blue Peter in the the late 60s. Fellow R2 announcer Charles Nove says he wasn't always a good boy "I remember one occasion when they sent him a long memo about things he was not to do during You & The Night & The Music. So he audibly lit up one of his fine cigars, put on a little light jazz piano in the background and read out the memo on-air, with a few choice comments along the way !"
After Hardy’s School, Dorchester, Bishop Wordsworth’s, Salisbury and Whitgift School in Croydon, he went straight to National Service.....and, on discharge in 1949, succesfully applied to be an announcer with the British Forces' Network in Hamburg, trained by Robin Boyle.
He joined the BBC's European Service in 1952, and worked on the Light Programme/Radio 2 for almost 40 years, hosting Music Box, Top of the Form, Midday Spin, Housewives' Choice, Round the Bend, Saturday Night at the Light, News Time, Swingalong, Out and About, Treble Chance, Melody Hour, Radio 2 Top Tunes, The Late Show and You and the Night and the Music.
Odder gigs included a role as "Chairman" in a tv commercial for Square Deal Surf, and narrating Bleep and Booster on Blue Peter in the the late 60s. Fellow R2 announcer Charles Nove says he wasn't always a good boy "I remember one occasion when they sent him a long memo about things he was not to do during You & The Night & The Music. So he audibly lit up one of his fine cigars, put on a little light jazz piano in the background and read out the memo on-air, with a few choice comments along the way !"
Property news
Terrific ratings for Strictly Come Dancing and Blue Planet II gave the new BBC attempt to make E.M. Forster's Howards End interesting a wonderful launchpad. 6.61m watched according to the overnight ratings. If they can only keep that connection, there'll be no telegrams and anger leading to panic and emptiness.
I think it's peaked.
I think it's peaked.
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Sifting
With all the candidates safely gathered in, BBC DG Lord Hall will have had a fun weekend making a shortlist to replace James Harding. He may have had a hand from Ian Hargreaves, non-executive, who preceded Tony Hall as Director of News and Current Affairs back in the last century.
I'm not sure who will join them on the interview panel - there'll have to be a woman. And if it's Anne Bulford, the money issue will be bound to come up. The range of internal candidates, whilst solid, is not stellar; save Jonathan Munro, few have had experience outside the BBC. But they'll all know more about where to make savings - racking up to £80m a year over the next three years - than any outsider.
Meanwhile Mr Harding is still turning up at W1A, despite promising to set up some form of journalistic competition to Auntie in the New Year - that can't be right.
I'm not sure who will join them on the interview panel - there'll have to be a woman. And if it's Anne Bulford, the money issue will be bound to come up. The range of internal candidates, whilst solid, is not stellar; save Jonathan Munro, few have had experience outside the BBC. But they'll all know more about where to make savings - racking up to £80m a year over the next three years - than any outsider.
Meanwhile Mr Harding is still turning up at W1A, despite promising to set up some form of journalistic competition to Auntie in the New Year - that can't be right.
Layers of talent
It seems RT's latest chatshow host, Alex Salmond, is not the only former MP acquiring new skills. Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, 47, actress-turned-lawyer-turned SNP MP, is to be his studio director.
The third leg of the production team is Denise Silvey, casting director of The Mousetrap, who helped Salmond develop his show for the Edinburgh Fringe. She was also on the production team of Johnathan Maitland's "Dead Sheep".The Alex Salmond Show every Thursday on RTtv, produced by SLAINTE Media & Directed by @TasminaSheikh so proud of you Tasmina. pic.twitter.com/ilyJ2mJrlf— Zulfikar Sheikh (@zulfikar_sheikh) November 9, 2017
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Tuning in ?
A welcome increase in audience figures for the third outing of yoof-boosting Sounds Like Friday Night on BBC1 - an average of 2.32m watched, according to the overnights; that's a 13.9% share of the available audience. (It would be sad if the rise was just down to pre-kick-off football twaddle on ITV). Co-host was Universal Music's Demi Lovato, a singer.
Two names
It's all about simplification, according to BBC HR Director Valerie Hughes D'Aeth.
Thus her department is advertising for a Contracts Manager, but...
Thus her department is advertising for a Contracts Manager, but...
Package Description
Grade 7
Proposed Band B
Please note - this role sits within the BBC HR structure, however, due to our careerpath frameworks programme we have used the Contracts Manager job title from the Procurement job family, and the role may be referred to as a Senior HR Advisor internally.
Friday, November 10, 2017
Cursive
How much for a 'personalised message' from the 'most distinguished foreign correspondent of our time' ?
A little over £20. John Simpson's family agency, Kruger Cowne, has launched an online shop. John's latest oeuvre "We Chose to Speak of War and Strife" is available as a new hardback from Amazon for £20 (used from around £2.80). But for a mere £40, you can now get your own new copy embellished with 150 characters and spaces from the pen of 'the master of his profession.'
Anyone prepared to entertain us with a suggestion or two ?
A little over £20. John Simpson's family agency, Kruger Cowne, has launched an online shop. John's latest oeuvre "We Chose to Speak of War and Strife" is available as a new hardback from Amazon for £20 (used from around £2.80). But for a mere £40, you can now get your own new copy embellished with 150 characters and spaces from the pen of 'the master of his profession.'
Anyone prepared to entertain us with a suggestion or two ?
Concerted effort
BBC Music's experiment with primetime music shows on BBC1 is still struggling. Last night, Sam Smith, a popular singer/songwriter with Universal Music, and Fearne Cotton, a BBC disc-jockey, brought in an average of 1.82m viewers according to the overnight ratings - a 9.2% share of the available audience. Scanning the dimly-lit live audience, it looked like a few over-34s had crept in, which is not what the BBC is after.
Mr Smith has a new album of tunes with similar chord progressions available for the Christmas market.
Mr Smith has a new album of tunes with similar chord progressions available for the Christmas market.
Strike up the band
Too many orchestras ? It's a question that's run around the BBC over the years (and featured as a strand in the mockumentary W1A), but they remain largely intact. RTE have now turned to former BBC Radio boss Helen Boaden to decide if two is one too many....
RTE runs the RTE National Symphony Orchestra and the RT Concert Orchestra. Last year they took 7.1% of RTE's licence fee revenue, amounting to 12.7m euros. Unfortunately, they cost 15.6m euros over the twelve months.
Helen will be helped by one of the Beeb's favourite strategy consultants, Mediatique, led by Mathew (sic) Horsman.
Last year the BBC spent £27.8m on five orchestras and the BBC Singers. That's 31.4m euros at today's rates.
RTE runs the RTE National Symphony Orchestra and the RT Concert Orchestra. Last year they took 7.1% of RTE's licence fee revenue, amounting to 12.7m euros. Unfortunately, they cost 15.6m euros over the twelve months.
Helen will be helped by one of the Beeb's favourite strategy consultants, Mediatique, led by Mathew (sic) Horsman.
Last year the BBC spent £27.8m on five orchestras and the BBC Singers. That's 31.4m euros at today's rates.
Other pay issues
The BBC has just answered a Freedom of Information enquiry posted in April. It dodges questions about senior management pay comparators, but assures us that executive pay is reviewed annually, and set at a discount of between 50% and 80% of market levels.
It gives examples of the companies used to judge these market levels...
• Public sector: (Civil Service, Met Office, NHS England, Ofcom)
• Commercial Public Sector: (Channel 4, Crossrail, Network Rail, Royal Mail, Transport for London).
• Commercial Sector: a broad sample of general industry companies with revenues similar to those of the BBC (excluding financial services).
I'd love to know if any of these organisations pay their top HR professional £310k.
It gives examples of the companies used to judge these market levels...
• Public sector: (Civil Service, Met Office, NHS England, Ofcom)
• Commercial Public Sector: (Channel 4, Crossrail, Network Rail, Royal Mail, Transport for London).
• Commercial Sector: a broad sample of general industry companies with revenues similar to those of the BBC (excluding financial services).
I'd love to know if any of these organisations pay their top HR professional £310k.
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Thrift
Applications to succeed James Harding as Director of News close tomorrow - and Lord Hall is quietly boxing candidates in on the money front.
Yesterday he announced that BBC local radio in England - part of News - will be protected from planned savings of £10m - that's 8% of the 2016/17 budget. Earlier, a BBC spokesman came to the aid of one of News' most expensive products - Newsnight.
“Newsnight is a firm fixture in the BBC schedule because it is a vibrant and original force in British journalism, tackling the biggest stories and widely admired for its news making interviews, in-depth investigations and original journalism.
“The programme is on great form with a stable TV audience, a significant digital footprint and a string of stories and exclusives. With a talented team in place, the editor of Newsnight is one of the best jobs in British TV journalism and we will begin recruiting shortly.”
The show returns a cumulative audience of around 600k a night, when you count both the original transmission and the News Channel repeat, and is thought to have a budget of above £6m.
Today is also the 20th birthday of the News Channel, nee News 24, which brings 7.2m a week to BBC News. James Harding sought to subsume it into BBC World News to make savings, and was thwarted by Lord Hall.
When the candidates presenter their Powerpoints, Lord Hall will be looking for a section called "Wot's left to cut ?"
Yesterday he announced that BBC local radio in England - part of News - will be protected from planned savings of £10m - that's 8% of the 2016/17 budget. Earlier, a BBC spokesman came to the aid of one of News' most expensive products - Newsnight.
“Newsnight is a firm fixture in the BBC schedule because it is a vibrant and original force in British journalism, tackling the biggest stories and widely admired for its news making interviews, in-depth investigations and original journalism.
“The programme is on great form with a stable TV audience, a significant digital footprint and a string of stories and exclusives. With a talented team in place, the editor of Newsnight is one of the best jobs in British TV journalism and we will begin recruiting shortly.”
The show returns a cumulative audience of around 600k a night, when you count both the original transmission and the News Channel repeat, and is thought to have a budget of above £6m.
Today is also the 20th birthday of the News Channel, nee News 24, which brings 7.2m a week to BBC News. James Harding sought to subsume it into BBC World News to make savings, and was thwarted by Lord Hall.
When the candidates presenter their Powerpoints, Lord Hall will be looking for a section called "Wot's left to cut ?"
Happy birthday
BBC staff in Local Radio will be taking an extra shot in their skinny lattes this morning - some because they picked up gongs at the (internal) Gillard Awards in Coventry last night, and many more because the threat of big cuts has been lifted by the Director-General.
Lord Hall has promised a sea change for programming - ending the instruction to target just over-50s, and allowing each station to develop "its own sound and personality".
"I know why we’ve had to adopt a one-size-fits-all approach. But that’s not where the country is, so it’s not where we’re heading. That’s why I’m going to give our local editors more creative freedom to celebrate local life. To reflect local identity. And nurture local talent."
Not only has the DG ditched proposals to cut £10m from the stations in the years ahead, he's ending the shared weekday evening programme next summer, currently three hours of "Great music and conversation as Georgey [Spanswick] brings together the best of BBC Local Radio." He's pledged a prominent place for local radio on the forthcoming re-launch of the iPlayer Radio, and investment in technology to help stations do more on new media. Online, he says, you can now search for local news just by entering your postcode.
All good stuff. There's a list rolling around produced by the BBC of fifty presenters who got their start in local radio. It ought to include Lord Hall, who spent three months at Radio Birmingham (now Radio WM) as a news trainee in 1975.
Lord Hall has promised a sea change for programming - ending the instruction to target just over-50s, and allowing each station to develop "its own sound and personality".
"I know why we’ve had to adopt a one-size-fits-all approach. But that’s not where the country is, so it’s not where we’re heading. That’s why I’m going to give our local editors more creative freedom to celebrate local life. To reflect local identity. And nurture local talent."
Not only has the DG ditched proposals to cut £10m from the stations in the years ahead, he's ending the shared weekday evening programme next summer, currently three hours of "Great music and conversation as Georgey [Spanswick] brings together the best of BBC Local Radio." He's pledged a prominent place for local radio on the forthcoming re-launch of the iPlayer Radio, and investment in technology to help stations do more on new media. Online, he says, you can now search for local news just by entering your postcode.
All good stuff. There's a list rolling around produced by the BBC of fifty presenters who got their start in local radio. It ought to include Lord Hall, who spent three months at Radio Birmingham (now Radio WM) as a news trainee in 1975.
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Paper tearing
The tussle for control of Johnston Press continues. Norwegian raider Christen Ager-Hanssen, in charge of 20% shareholder Custos, has called for a shareholder meeting, to vote on replacing interim chair Camilla Rhodes and director Michael Butterworth, with their nominees, Alex Salmond and Steve Auckland, former MD of the Metro.
Johnston Press have turned down the request as 'invalid'.
Johnston Press have turned down the request as 'invalid'.
Quiz
Cultural heroes at the BBC.
BBC staff have a mischievous side. Is there any representational statue of recent years that cannot be enhanced by a) the addition of an Arsenal bobble-hat b) a large marrow under the arm or c) the chaining of a Brompton bicycle to the leg ?
One further question: name the World At One reporter who, in the 1980s, plastered a bust of Lord Reith with hummus during a reception in the Governors' Dining Room ?
BBC staff have a mischievous side. Is there any representational statue of recent years that cannot be enhanced by a) the addition of an Arsenal bobble-hat b) a large marrow under the arm or c) the chaining of a Brompton bicycle to the leg ?
One further question: name the World At One reporter who, in the 1980s, plastered a bust of Lord Reith with hummus during a reception in the Governors' Dining Room ?
Working your way up
Who got Ian Katz his C4 gig ?
next up, @nicholaswatt is coming back on set for an update of the latest stuff on Priti Patel #newsnight— Jess Brammar (@jessbrammar) November 7, 2017
Oh wow! Acting editor! Way to go. Who do you need to sweep aside to make it your own?— Nick Tesco (@TheNickTesco) November 7, 2017
I had to find a really important job at channel 4 for Ian Katz, it’s been exhausting— Jess Brammar (@jessbrammar) November 7, 2017
Nibbles
Some odds and end from the BBC's appearance at the DDCMS Select Committee yesterday...
2.3m million 16-34s watched the first episode of Blue Planet II - more than the total overnight audience for any single edition of Love Island 2.
Radio 1 claims to be the most popular radio station on YouTube.
The BBC's new 'Next Generation Committee' met for the first time last week. It is made of up 12 members of staff under 30, selected from 240 applicants, and is there to review BBC plans from a 'youth' perspective. They've been considering a proposed new version of the BBC iPlayer Radio, due for launch next year; aspects of BBC workplace culture; and the generality of schedules.
"Young adults" are spending an average of 9 hours a week with the BBC.
There are 10 million active 'sign-in users' of BBC online services. The BBC estimates that the on-screen reminder that you need a licence to watch programmes online has produced £12m in extra licence fees. There's a review underway to produce a new target for licence fee collection - currently the ambition is to keep evasion down to 4%.
The BBC is thinking about viewers might access, and perhaps pay for, old programmes through the iPlayer - shows that currently make money by being repeated on UKTV channels.
The BBC is asking government to consider putting funds directly into BBC World News, the tv channel currently funded by ads, in order to improve editorial content, and remove it from paywalls in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.
Auntie is not ready to bring forward proposals on free licence-fees for the over-75s - the BBC has to bear the cost from June 2020.
The BBC issued a reminder to staff about how to complain about bullying and harassment in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein case. There are currently 25 'live' cases; Anne Bulford said this is a 'spike'.
Committee chair Damian Collins invited any commercial radio presenters on salaries above £150k pa to write in; he would keep their names anonymous.
Lord Hall said there was no annnouncement to be made yet about the reported Sarah Montague/Martha Kearney job swap. (Wouldn't it be wonderful if Lady Brooke had bounced News management into it ?)
2.3m million 16-34s watched the first episode of Blue Planet II - more than the total overnight audience for any single edition of Love Island 2.
Radio 1 claims to be the most popular radio station on YouTube.
The BBC's new 'Next Generation Committee' met for the first time last week. It is made of up 12 members of staff under 30, selected from 240 applicants, and is there to review BBC plans from a 'youth' perspective. They've been considering a proposed new version of the BBC iPlayer Radio, due for launch next year; aspects of BBC workplace culture; and the generality of schedules.
"Young adults" are spending an average of 9 hours a week with the BBC.
There are 10 million active 'sign-in users' of BBC online services. The BBC estimates that the on-screen reminder that you need a licence to watch programmes online has produced £12m in extra licence fees. There's a review underway to produce a new target for licence fee collection - currently the ambition is to keep evasion down to 4%.
The BBC is thinking about viewers might access, and perhaps pay for, old programmes through the iPlayer - shows that currently make money by being repeated on UKTV channels.
The BBC is asking government to consider putting funds directly into BBC World News, the tv channel currently funded by ads, in order to improve editorial content, and remove it from paywalls in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.
Auntie is not ready to bring forward proposals on free licence-fees for the over-75s - the BBC has to bear the cost from June 2020.
The BBC issued a reminder to staff about how to complain about bullying and harassment in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein case. There are currently 25 'live' cases; Anne Bulford said this is a 'spike'.
Committee chair Damian Collins invited any commercial radio presenters on salaries above £150k pa to write in; he would keep their names anonymous.
Lord Hall said there was no annnouncement to be made yet about the reported Sarah Montague/Martha Kearney job swap. (Wouldn't it be wonderful if Lady Brooke had bounced News management into it ?)
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Kiddie corner
James Purnell has published what promises to be a quarterly report about BBC Radio & Education reaching young audiences, on medium.com. I'm sure it'll be on the staff website somewhere soon.
Highlights: "When I wrote in August, I reported that our reach among 15–44 year olds in radio had crept up. This quarter it’s dipped from 56.2% to 55.7%. In the same quarter last year, it was 56.4%."
"Figures for September show that the reach to the CBeebies channel (0–6 year olds) increased to 44.9% (but down slightly on last year). In the same month that Saturday morning live kids TV returned to the BBC in Saturday Mash Up, we have seen a slight increase in reach (6–12 year olds) compared to last month at 22.5%."
Highlights: "When I wrote in August, I reported that our reach among 15–44 year olds in radio had crept up. This quarter it’s dipped from 56.2% to 55.7%. In the same quarter last year, it was 56.4%."
"Figures for September show that the reach to the CBeebies channel (0–6 year olds) increased to 44.9% (but down slightly on last year). In the same month that Saturday morning live kids TV returned to the BBC in Saturday Mash Up, we have seen a slight increase in reach (6–12 year olds) compared to last month at 22.5%."
Where's John ?
Those following the career of former BBC finance wizard John Smith will be interested to note a return to the world of film and tv. Smith, 23 years with Auntie, has left his berth at Burberry, and is joining venture capitalists Edge Investments - founded by Brian Glick, and chaired by Charles Miller Smith, former executive with Scottish Power, ICI and Unilever. Miller Smith, like John, is Henley-based.
Edge has money in Audioboom, children's book and tv company Coolabi, which holds the rights to the Clangers, and Newsflare, a website helping the ordinary punter to sell video to news organisations.
Edge has money in Audioboom, children's book and tv company Coolabi, which holds the rights to the Clangers, and Newsflare, a website helping the ordinary punter to sell video to news organisations.
Monday, November 6, 2017
Reporting up
The ad for a new Editor of The Archers has arrived - Hugh Kennair-Jones announced his departure for ITV on October 4, and was presumably asked to clear his locker at The Mailbox in Birmingham the next day.
The next custodian will be the servant of four masters: "The Editor, The Archers reports to the Head of Arts, Documentaries and Drama and is also accountable for the editorial and creative performance of the strand to the Head of Audio Drama, UK as well as to the Controller of Radio 4 and the Commissioning Editor, Drama and Readings at Radio 4."
That's Rob Ketteridge, Alison Hindell, Gwyneth Williams and Jeremy Howe.
Candidates this time round may well be reminded that the post is supposed to be permanent.
The next custodian will be the servant of four masters: "The Editor, The Archers reports to the Head of Arts, Documentaries and Drama and is also accountable for the editorial and creative performance of the strand to the Head of Audio Drama, UK as well as to the Controller of Radio 4 and the Commissioning Editor, Drama and Readings at Radio 4."
That's Rob Ketteridge, Alison Hindell, Gwyneth Williams and Jeremy Howe.
Candidates this time round may well be reminded that the post is supposed to be permanent.
Eres lo máximo
Whatever his new venture, James Harding is already taking bookings for 2018. He will be in conversation as part of a Celebrating Journalism series, at the Madrid campus of the University of Navarra. They've done him a pretty portentous video as a tease. He better have some big thoughts.
Gotcha
BBC1, guided by Charlotte Moore, has had a few scheduling issues of late, but the decision to sneak Panorama out on a comatose audience at 6pm on a cold winter Sunday paid off. An average of 3.79m watched the Paradise Papers, a scoop shared via Suddeutsche Zeitung and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Some viewers may just have joined waiting for the arrival of Countryfile. Audiences for the traditional Monday Panorama slot have been in slow decline for some time - often falling below 2m. In 1960, the hey-day of Panorama, average audiences were around 7m.
Driving value for money
Now we know how BBC HR Director Valerie Hughes D'Aeth has made all those savings in her own department....
Sunday, November 5, 2017
Rise and fall
So, we are halfway through Strictly 2017, and last night's overnight figures gave the show an average audience of 10.47m (51.3% share). Despite anxieties about the quality of this year's celebs and the arrival of scouser Shirley Ballas as head judge, that's up on last year, when the Bonfire Night show returned 9.70m (46.2%).
For those of us who find Ms Ballast's on-screen persona already a little too familiar, nay cocky, there will be rows tomorrow over a split judging decision - the first of this series....
For those of us who find Ms Ballast's on-screen persona already a little too familiar, nay cocky, there will be rows tomorrow over a split judging decision - the first of this series....
Minitrue ?
An eight-foot tall bronze of George Orwell, the first statue to the writer in the UK, will be put in place at Broadcasting House on Tuesday - on the north-eastern corner of the piazza, where lurketh smokers and mini-cabs. Was the BBC the model for Orwell's Ministry of Truth in 1984 ? It's firmly believed Room 101 was inspired by Broadcasting House - though in the novel, Room 101 is a place for torture and 're-education', in the basement of the Ministry of Love.
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Remote voting
Not great - edition 2 of Sounds Like Friday Night, the BBC's big move to tempt more 16-34 year-olds back to the Channel, attracted an average audience of just 1.61m, down from the opening show's 2.12m. The star and co-host was Liam Payne, a singer formerly in the popular music combo One Direction and now in a relationship with Cheryl Cole. He opened the proceedings with four girl dancers. Bring back the Go-Jos.
Flippin' chicken
A spot of bad luck for the producers of Sounds Like Friday Night in this week's edition on BBC1. Foul-mouthed Liam Gallagher dropped out with voice trouble. They opted for late replacement Dizzee Rascal - who freestyled a few 'f' words into the lyrics of his sub-Keatsian ode, 'Bop 'n keep it dippin', way before the watershed. Host 'Uncle' Greg James had to apologise. (Come back later for the audience figures).
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
In the manor I ain’t slippin’, nah
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Cos these man are always flippin’ (switchin’)
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’ Bop ’n keep it dippin’
I ain’t flippin’ over no chicken (no)
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ cos the manor’s unforgivin’ (trust)
Jack the lad
Jack an’ nab
Had to snatch and grab
I was black and sad
Couldn’t even catch a cab
Sittin’ in the pad
Thinkin’ I was bad
Like a chav
I was savvy
Had the gab
I was shabby
Never had the swag
GAP jacket turned into a bag
It was fab
Just a slightly dodgy fad
At the time it was the greatest swag I had
Old dear used to nag
Every time I brought a slag into the pad
I was glad
Caught the clap
I couldn’t blag
I wave the flag
Now I wrap it when I shag
Listenin’ to makaveli
Thinkin’ I was rags
With my rag
Sippin Alizé
Not the Hennessey
It made me gag
Now I’m older
Thug Passion really sounds like just a dodgy porno mag
That is not a jab
Let the critics take a stab
Birds tellin’ me I’m drab cos I don’t dab
Thought by now I’d be a dad
With a WAG
Caught me cheatin’ on my stag
Still it’s better than a bucket full of angry crabs
Jammin’ at Jalil’s
With his brother Bills
Back when rap was all about the skills
Cannabis, sticky fingers, Eminem and Cyprus Hill
Had the time to kill
Sit and chill
Debate about who had the sickest verse
Who your favourite was and who was ill
Strictly for the thrill
Yeah I’m Dylan but they used to call me Dyl
Before the the deal
Mr Mills fell in love with Natalie
She had a wavy pair of lils
Gave me chills but she was crazy
Always all up in my grill
No she wasn’t from the grill
She was Bajan then occasionally
Brought her bredrin down from Gypsy Hill
Who I really didn’t feel
If I had to keep it absolutely real
Then she didn’t feel me either
Doubt she’ll leave me in her will
Went to PFC and watched my bredrin jump up on the counters
Stab the boss across the till
It was probably over nil
Overkill
Must have dropped a dodgy pill
This is not a bloody drill
Somebody call the ambulance
The bloods about to spill
Petty crimes
Peak times
Back when creed and unknown
MC Pied Piper went to number one with good rhymes
So Solid next it was a good sign
More Fire blew
But Heartless crew they had the good vibes I was in my boiler suit
On the grind
Cookin’ grime
On the champagne dance shoot
Thinkin’ I was lookin’ fine
Saw the rise and the decline
The extortion and the devils on the sidelines
Bitchin’cos they couldn’t get the shine
It was deep and I could peep
They tried to creep up from behind
Talkin’ ‘bout they want a piece
So I went and bought a piece
It was a (nine)
Told myself nobody’s ever takin’ mine
I’ll go blind if they ever cross the line
But I never wanted pressure from the swine
Got me thinkin’ bout my struggles
And the mountain that I had to climb I will not rewind
Plus I’m barely in my prime
Got me switchin’ up my line
Relocated off the ends
I was bored but got my piece of mind
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
In the manor I ain’t slippin’, nah
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Cos these man are always flippin’ (switchin’)
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’ Bop ’n keep it dippin’
I ain’t flippin’ over no chicken (no)
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ dippin’
Bop ’n keep it dippin’ cos the manor’s unforgivin’ (trust)
Jack the lad
Jack an’ nab
Had to snatch and grab
I was black and sad
Couldn’t even catch a cab
Sittin’ in the pad
Thinkin’ I was bad
Like a chav
I was savvy
Had the gab
I was shabby
Never had the swag
GAP jacket turned into a bag
It was fab
Just a slightly dodgy fad
At the time it was the greatest swag I had
Old dear used to nag
Every time I brought a slag into the pad
I was glad
Caught the clap
I couldn’t blag
I wave the flag
Now I wrap it when I shag
Listenin’ to makaveli
Thinkin’ I was rags
With my rag
Sippin Alizé
Not the Hennessey
It made me gag
Now I’m older
Thug Passion really sounds like just a dodgy porno mag
That is not a jab
Let the critics take a stab
Birds tellin’ me I’m drab cos I don’t dab
Thought by now I’d be a dad
With a WAG
Caught me cheatin’ on my stag
Still it’s better than a bucket full of angry crabs
Jammin’ at Jalil’s
With his brother Bills
Back when rap was all about the skills
Cannabis, sticky fingers, Eminem and Cyprus Hill
Had the time to kill
Sit and chill
Debate about who had the sickest verse
Who your favourite was and who was ill
Strictly for the thrill
Yeah I’m Dylan but they used to call me Dyl
Before the the deal
Mr Mills fell in love with Natalie
She had a wavy pair of lils
Gave me chills but she was crazy
Always all up in my grill
No she wasn’t from the grill
She was Bajan then occasionally
Brought her bredrin down from Gypsy Hill
Who I really didn’t feel
If I had to keep it absolutely real
Then she didn’t feel me either
Doubt she’ll leave me in her will
Went to PFC and watched my bredrin jump up on the counters
Stab the boss across the till
It was probably over nil
Overkill
Must have dropped a dodgy pill
This is not a bloody drill
Somebody call the ambulance
The bloods about to spill
Petty crimes
Peak times
Back when creed and unknown
MC Pied Piper went to number one with good rhymes
So Solid next it was a good sign
More Fire blew
But Heartless crew they had the good vibes I was in my boiler suit
On the grind
Cookin’ grime
On the champagne dance shoot
Thinkin’ I was lookin’ fine
Saw the rise and the decline
The extortion and the devils on the sidelines
Bitchin’cos they couldn’t get the shine
It was deep and I could peep
They tried to creep up from behind
Talkin’ ‘bout they want a piece
So I went and bought a piece
It was a (nine)
Told myself nobody’s ever takin’ mine
I’ll go blind if they ever cross the line
But I never wanted pressure from the swine
Got me thinkin’ bout my struggles
And the mountain that I had to climb I will not rewind
Plus I’m barely in my prime
Got me switchin’ up my line
Relocated off the ends
I was bored but got my piece of mind
Friday, November 3, 2017
Bum note
Harry Styles, a singer, with added Nick Grimshaw, brought an average of just 1.4m viewers to BBC1 at 8pm last night, according to the overnight ratings. That's a 7.3% share of the available audience.
What's in a name ?
Football commentator Alan Green was back at work on 5Live this week, from his summer spell with Atlanta FC and Fox Sports. The peachy job of 'calling' Spurs v Real Madrid was his. Marcelo (Vieira da Silva Júnior), the visitors' Brazilian full-back, became 'Marchelo', rather than the customary Portuguese, 'Mar-selo'.
Want away ?
As Hallowe'en pushes us regularly into the festive calendar, BBC News follows with its annual all staff trawl for those ready to consider volunteering for an exit. In seven to ten days, you are promised guidance on your 'offer', capped now at £150k. With average salaries for a Senior Broadcast Journalist in network news running at £44k, the package is clearly less attractive than it was to higher grades, who used to expect two years' salary.
And volunteers aren't guaranteed a deal; News has yet to publish its proposals for savings in 2017/18 - now a job for James Harding's successor.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Putting coverage right
Exeter College, Oxford, tells us that Alan Yentob is making a film about alumnus Philip Pullman. The presenter and editor of the Imagine strand must feel the BBC hasn't done enough about this great author and the launch of his new trilogy....
Prosecco O'Clock
Some regular viewers of Newsnight were not entranced by last night's special - "The Problem With Men", a debate featuring 16 blokes and 4 women perched on stools. It surely must have been under gestation during the editorship of Ian Katz, but the end credits now show Jess Brammar and Daniel Clarke as "Acting Editors" (correct internally, but surely too much information for viewers).
Mr Katz will have had to clear his BBC workstation and locker, as he's off to a competitor, albeit with some public service ethos. His appointment cleared the commissioning offices at C4 on the afternoon of the announcement, according to Matthew Moore in The Times; the appointment, he says, was met with 'shock and grief'. 'Some staff were said to be in despair that the job — one of the most powerful in British television — had been given to someone with no background in commissioning and minimal experience of Channel 4’s youth and diversity priorities.'
Or it may just have been time for the wine bar....
Mr Katz will have had to clear his BBC workstation and locker, as he's off to a competitor, albeit with some public service ethos. His appointment cleared the commissioning offices at C4 on the afternoon of the announcement, according to Matthew Moore in The Times; the appointment, he says, was met with 'shock and grief'. 'Some staff were said to be in despair that the job — one of the most powerful in British television — had been given to someone with no background in commissioning and minimal experience of Channel 4’s youth and diversity priorities.'
Or it may just have been time for the wine bar....
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Shuffle
Katherine Rushton in the Mail is first with the Today/World At One job swap. Sarah Montague (aka Lady Brooke) is moving to four weekday, sociable hours shifts, whilst Martha Kearney moves to the Today hamster wheel of 4am starts, an unpredictable three or four times a week including Saturdays.
Martha's already in the £200-250k pay band. Sarah currently is on less than £150k. I'd surmise that both will end up just above £250k.....where lurketh Nick Robinson and Evan Davies.
Someone may try to nudge outliers like Eddie Mair down to the same.
Post-match analysis
Shall I compare thee to Ronald Koeman ?
Ian Katz has left Newsnight of his own volition, for a top job, potentially worth half a million a year more than his current £151,600, if he keeps Channel 4 ahead of Channel 5. Koeman will get another berth - plus compensation of at least £3m for Everton FC ending his three-year contract early.
Neither Katz nor Koeman seemed sure of their best team, despite acquiring a range of middle-weight talent. Katz opted to replace big beast Paxman/Lukaku with Evan Davies, but also has commitments to Kirsty Wark, Emily Maitlis and James O'Brien. He's flirted with Eddie Mair, Robert Peston, Victoria Derbyshire, Laura Kuenssberg, Nick Ferrari and Emma Barnett in the presenter's chair. He's acquired new correspondents, including Nick Watt (from The Guardian), Christopher Cook (FT), Helen Thomas (Wall Street Journal) and Katie Razzall (C4). He has a roster of jobbing reporters including John Sweeney and, occasionally, Ian Katz.
He's tried his best with new media, using Facebook to provide live coverage of daytime events like The Budget. If these ventures had been a huge success, I'm sure we'd have heard about it. He's tried open-ended shows and tighter 45 minutes; he's had arts-y Fridays given and taken away; he's had longer regional bulletins on BBC1 eating into his figures; and no sign of a coherent BBC News strategy for Thursdays, when Question Time and This Week hoover up Newsnight's target audience.
He doesn't have a big budget for thoughtful foreign films; principals in UK political stories don't need to make Newsnight a priority anymore (and slightly miss Paxo); his casting of surrogates in discussions is often uncomfortable. He can point to some good reporting - Grenfell and Kids Company most recently, and good Brexit stuff - but the stadium isn't rocking like the old days. It's embarassing that the ITV pilot After The News, on a shoestring talk radio-style budget, has been a real rival.
The next editor will need a change of style. I'd be interested in a more clubby, relaxed approach. This Week covers more ground and with more humour, without a designer kitchen set, from a studio a quarter of the size of Newsnight's shiny floor.
The interregnum must be short; last time there was a gap we got the McAlpine mess. The same holds for Everton FC - whatever the question, David Unsworth isn't the answer.
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