One of the broadcasting forums has found Netflix's Top Ten rated shows in the UK from Friday.
One Brit in it. You'll miss the BBC when it's gone.
1. Love is Blind
A Netflix-commissioned reality dating show, from a resort in Mexico
2. I Am Not Okay With This
Teen-angst drama series set in Pittsburgh
3. The Stranger
Based on Harlan Coben's story, set around Manchester
4. Riverdale
US teen drama based on Archie comics
5. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez
6-part doc on abused California boy
6. Altered Carbon
US cyberpunk drama tosh
7. Pokemon: Mewtoo Strikes Back - Evolution
Nuff said
8. Locke & Key
US supernatural horror tosh
9. Pup Academy
US sci-fi dog tosh
10. Narcos Mexico
US drugs cartel tosh
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Collegiate
Seven days into James Purnell's search for sponsorship in the 2020 London Marathon - and there's still no sign of fellow BBC executives doshing up.
Jim's original target was £10k, but that's now moved to £3k. He's 7% of the way there, thanks to pledges from Anonymous, Kirsti, Chris and a bloke from Ofcom's Content Board.
Jim's original target was £10k, but that's now moved to £3k. He's 7% of the way there, thanks to pledges from Anonymous, Kirsti, Chris and a bloke from Ofcom's Content Board.
Friday, February 28, 2020
How it ends
The admission from former Culture Minister Ed Vaizey earlier this week that the Conservatives found the 'only lever' to control the BBC was to squeeze funding (and, by the way, that the most recent Charter Review was 'neither thoughtful or radical') signposts the way forward.
In this order, the Government will decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee, putting a huge area of uncertainty around the BBC's future income. Claire Enders has suggested it could cost £500m a year, in a combination of additional collection costs and avoidance. Imagine if Charles Moore at the Telegraph, Dan Wootton at the Sun and Mail columnists like Sarah Vine advocated systematic non-payment (why on earth would they ?). The flames will be fanned by the same people frothing when Capita start trying to collect licence fees from over-75s not on pension credit from June this year.
Then the Government will take at least inflation from the next licence fee settlement, and probably more to fund 'full-fibre-broadband', from 2022 to 2027.
Meanwhile they will focus on alternatives to the licence fee, rather than calling for a wider review of public service broadcasting, ready for driving through in the Conservative manifesto for the General Election of 2024.
In this order, the Government will decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee, putting a huge area of uncertainty around the BBC's future income. Claire Enders has suggested it could cost £500m a year, in a combination of additional collection costs and avoidance. Imagine if Charles Moore at the Telegraph, Dan Wootton at the Sun and Mail columnists like Sarah Vine advocated systematic non-payment (why on earth would they ?). The flames will be fanned by the same people frothing when Capita start trying to collect licence fees from over-75s not on pension credit from June this year.
Then the Government will take at least inflation from the next licence fee settlement, and probably more to fund 'full-fibre-broadband', from 2022 to 2027.
Meanwhile they will focus on alternatives to the licence fee, rather than calling for a wider review of public service broadcasting, ready for driving through in the Conservative manifesto for the General Election of 2024.
Missing Mickey already
Wake Up to Money was renamed Wake Up to Mickey on Radio 5 Live this morning, marking the frankly inexplicable departure of commentator Mickey Clarke, in place and making sense since 1994. Peter Allen and Jane Garvey were among those paying tribute, but perhaps more impressive was praise from Andrew Bailey, just over two weeks away from his new job as Governor of the Bank of England. Andrew's been in the banking sector since 1985, so there's probably no better endorsement. And even less of a rationale for getting rid of Mickey.
And's off
Former Beeboid Andy Tighe is the latest victim of Priti Patel's hyper-activity, leaving his role as Director of Communications at the Home Office. It looks like he was nudged into retirement, with Priti's firm jaw movements approaching his ankles.
Andy studied PPE at Hertford College, Oxford (contemporaries included Fiona Bruce and Carrie Gracie), and came into the BBC via local radio reporting, then network radio including Today, and for years was a pillar of the Home Affairs unit, featuring on many lives for News 24. The switch from poacher to gamekeeper came in 2011.
Andy studied PPE at Hertford College, Oxford (contemporaries included Fiona Bruce and Carrie Gracie), and came into the BBC via local radio reporting, then network radio including Today, and for years was a pillar of the Home Affairs unit, featuring on many lives for News 24. The switch from poacher to gamekeeper came in 2011.
Keep waving
John "Cheeky Boy" Whittingdale has announced what seems like a fairly benign review of the future of radio by the DCMS. Digital radio listening now counts for 58.5% of ears. 95% of new cars have DAB digital radio installed as standard and 44.5% of all listening in cars is now digital (up from virtually nil in 2010). Unstated - vast swathes of us use the INTERWEB as their audio source, on smart speakers and mobile phones. Power-hungry medium wave transmitters are being turned off; how far behind is FM ?
The daddy of them all - the long-wave transmitter at Droitwich - is still going, despite warnings as long ago as 2011 that replacement valves were no longer being manufactured. It has another purpose which has kept it alive - it broadcasts Teleswitch, which drives electricity meters switching in and out of Economy 7 tariffs. That contract has been extended to March 2021, in the hope that everyone will have a Smart meter by then.
Survivalists and sci-fi fans would argue that the Government might like to think about keeping LW alive a little longer, and doling out wind-up radios, if it wants to keep communications with a post-Armageddon population alive.
The daddy of them all - the long-wave transmitter at Droitwich - is still going, despite warnings as long ago as 2011 that replacement valves were no longer being manufactured. It has another purpose which has kept it alive - it broadcasts Teleswitch, which drives electricity meters switching in and out of Economy 7 tariffs. That contract has been extended to March 2021, in the hope that everyone will have a Smart meter by then.
Survivalists and sci-fi fans would argue that the Government might like to think about keeping LW alive a little longer, and doling out wind-up radios, if it wants to keep communications with a post-Armageddon population alive.
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Sounding board
In these difficult times, the BBC could do with a few friends on the Culture Select Committee, and has ended up with a new bunch of so-so Tories, for bonkers chair Julian Knight to bend to his will.
Likely new members (expected to be confirmed on Monday) are on the way down politically. Steve Brine, Tory MP for Winchester, is one - BoJo expelled him last September for voting to block a no-deal Brexit. And sadly, like many committee members, he might claim to be a broadcast expert - this faradiddle is from his website....
He is a former radio journalist having spent time with the BBC where he was one of the organisations youngest reporters and producers in BBC Local Radio at the age of 18. He spent periods with BBC Radio Surrey and BBC Southern Counties Radio as well as contributing as a freelance reporter to Radio Five Live. Steve also spent a year working in Chicago, USA with the Tribune Media Group's WGN Radio.
Also on the way down is Damian Green, Tory MP for Ashford. He was a hack with the BBC Financial Unit (serving mainly radio) from 1978 to 82. As an advisor to Major, he advised clipping the BBC's wings back in 1992.
And we get another Damian - Damian Hinds, Tory MP for East Hampshire, once flying moderately high as Secretary of State for Education, with slightly wayward hair.
Back to patronise the BBC again is the SNP's Laird of Broadcasting Expertise, former breakfast tv presenter John Nicolson.
Likely new members (expected to be confirmed on Monday) are on the way down politically. Steve Brine, Tory MP for Winchester, is one - BoJo expelled him last September for voting to block a no-deal Brexit. And sadly, like many committee members, he might claim to be a broadcast expert - this faradiddle is from his website....
He is a former radio journalist having spent time with the BBC where he was one of the organisations youngest reporters and producers in BBC Local Radio at the age of 18. He spent periods with BBC Radio Surrey and BBC Southern Counties Radio as well as contributing as a freelance reporter to Radio Five Live. Steve also spent a year working in Chicago, USA with the Tribune Media Group's WGN Radio.
Also on the way down is Damian Green, Tory MP for Ashford. He was a hack with the BBC Financial Unit (serving mainly radio) from 1978 to 82. As an advisor to Major, he advised clipping the BBC's wings back in 1992.
And we get another Damian - Damian Hinds, Tory MP for East Hampshire, once flying moderately high as Secretary of State for Education, with slightly wayward hair.
Back to patronise the BBC again is the SNP's Laird of Broadcasting Expertise, former breakfast tv presenter John Nicolson.
Strike a pose
The journalist judging panels of the Royal Television Society put their warm and protective embrace around the BBC in general and Newsnight in particular last night in their 2020 awards.
Newsnight won Daily Programme of the Year; Emily Maitlis was Network Presenter of the Year; Prince-Andrew-On-The-Rack-Of-Total-Unawareness was Interview of the Year and Scoop of The Year. Other BBC winners included reporter John Sudworth for The Missing Muslims of Xinjiang, for International News Coverage, with his cameramen Wang Xiqing also awarded; at home, reporter Angus Crawford for coverage of The Death of Molly Russell; around the country, BBC Scotland's Samantha Poling took the current affairs gong for Disclosure: Who Killed Emma ?, and BBC South East took the news medal for coverage of the Shoreham air crash.
Riz Lateef of BBC London was regional presenter of the year, but the night was really Emily's, who'd clearly been practising for the camera.
Newsnight won Daily Programme of the Year; Emily Maitlis was Network Presenter of the Year; Prince-Andrew-On-The-Rack-Of-Total-Unawareness was Interview of the Year and Scoop of The Year. Other BBC winners included reporter John Sudworth for The Missing Muslims of Xinjiang, for International News Coverage, with his cameramen Wang Xiqing also awarded; at home, reporter Angus Crawford for coverage of The Death of Molly Russell; around the country, BBC Scotland's Samantha Poling took the current affairs gong for Disclosure: Who Killed Emma ?, and BBC South East took the news medal for coverage of the Shoreham air crash.
Going west
Arts lovers pining for Artsdaddy Alan Yentob (no upcoming editions of ..imagine.. scheduled, though there's one in the can with poet Lemn Sissay) should soon have an opportunity to see daughter Bella on the big screen.
She plays Clarissa Hawkins in British-made-Mexican-themed-shot-in-Spain western Dry River, now in post-production. The cast includes veteran tv and film actor Michael Moriarty, who was in Clint Eastwood's Pale Rider and Ann Mitchell, most recently seen as Elsie Dyer in Call The Midwife. It was shot over four weeks last autumn, and now awaits tweaking and a soundtrack from former Cure drummer Jason Cooper.
It's directed by Daniel Simpson, who brought us Hangar 10 and The Rendlesham UFO Incident. Bella has dabbled with modelling, writing and shorter videos since her degree course at Manchester University.
".
She plays Clarissa Hawkins in British-made-Mexican-themed-shot-in-Spain western Dry River, now in post-production. The cast includes veteran tv and film actor Michael Moriarty, who was in Clint Eastwood's Pale Rider and Ann Mitchell, most recently seen as Elsie Dyer in Call The Midwife. It was shot over four weeks last autumn, and now awaits tweaking and a soundtrack from former Cure drummer Jason Cooper.
It's directed by Daniel Simpson, who brought us Hangar 10 and The Rendlesham UFO Incident. Bella has dabbled with modelling, writing and shorter videos since her degree course at Manchester University.
 |
| "Make one false move and I'll blow your face off" |
".
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Turn of phrase
Oh, Jonathan Wa-alll, oh, Jonathan Wa-alll. The Controller of BBC Sounds has caught the management-speak variant of coronavirus. Jonno, listen to yourself. What on earth is a 'curated rail' ?
"We also now have a curated rail of music mixes based on listening history and we’re going to do more to have our expert curation at the heart of category sections for genres such as sport, drama and comedy so that audiences can easily see content which is particularly relevant or timely."
Jonathan confirms a weekly reach of 3m for BBC Sounds. It was 3m in December, three months ago.
Meanwhile Jonno's R&D chums are calling for people to back the Radioplayer for car listening.
"We also now have a curated rail of music mixes based on listening history and we’re going to do more to have our expert curation at the heart of category sections for genres such as sport, drama and comedy so that audiences can easily see content which is particularly relevant or timely."
Jonathan confirms a weekly reach of 3m for BBC Sounds. It was 3m in December, three months ago.
Meanwhile Jonno's R&D chums are calling for people to back the Radioplayer for car listening.
Poor Eamonn
Eamonn Holmes is the latest tv presenter to fall foul of tax tribunal judge Harriet Morgan. It was Harriet's casting vote that sealed the case of Joanna Gosling, Tim Wilcox and David Eades, BBC News Channel presenters; in their tribunal against the HMRC, Harriet concluded that there was ‘sufficient mutuality and at least a sufficient framework of control to place the assumed relationships between the BBC and the presenters in the employment field’. Thus, they shouldn't have been paid via personal service companies, a route enforced by the BBC.
In the case of Gosling, Wilcox and Eades, the BBC is 'helping' with the back payments. Will ITV be as kind to Eamonn, and his company, Red White and Green ?
Dave Chaplin, a consultant on contractor tax notes “Had Holmes been investigated under the new rules, due to take effect in April 2020, he would not owe HMRC any money at all. He would actually get a tax refund, and it would be his deemed employer - in this case ITV - that would be picking up a tax bill.”
Eamonn's personal style, in the view of the courts, is a million miles from that of Ms Lorraine Kelly. She successfully argued that she is a freelance theatrical artist, acting as a genial host on television, and therefore in a quite different tax position.
In the case of Gosling, Wilcox and Eades, the BBC is 'helping' with the back payments. Will ITV be as kind to Eamonn, and his company, Red White and Green ?
Dave Chaplin, a consultant on contractor tax notes “Had Holmes been investigated under the new rules, due to take effect in April 2020, he would not owe HMRC any money at all. He would actually get a tax refund, and it would be his deemed employer - in this case ITV - that would be picking up a tax bill.”
Eamonn's personal style, in the view of the courts, is a million miles from that of Ms Lorraine Kelly. She successfully argued that she is a freelance theatrical artist, acting as a genial host on television, and therefore in a quite different tax position.
Robust
When the BBC said the news and sport text services on the "red button" were closing down, it also claimed "independent research, conducted before the changes were announced, concluded that the vast majority of people could access red button information in alternative ways, such as TV, radio and online services."
The BBC has now refused to disclose either the research or details of who conducted it, in response to a Freedom of Information request.
The BBC has now refused to disclose either the research or details of who conducted it, in response to a Freedom of Information request.
Not the full story
Plucky BBC News bodies are in Belgrade today, hosting a conference on fake news.
Serbia's not a bad place for the meeting; the country's tabloids are notorious for dodgy stories. But who's behind them ? Earlier this month, most of the Serbian media quoted what they called a Financial Times story saying the Serbian economy is "moving forward fast". Turns out it was not in the FT, but fDi Magazine, a Financial Times publication, and the article was paid for by the Ministry of Finance, Serbia, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and several local authority groups within Serbia.
Serbia's not a bad place for the meeting; the country's tabloids are notorious for dodgy stories. But who's behind them ? Earlier this month, most of the Serbian media quoted what they called a Financial Times story saying the Serbian economy is "moving forward fast". Turns out it was not in the FT, but fDi Magazine, a Financial Times publication, and the article was paid for by the Ministry of Finance, Serbia, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and several local authority groups within Serbia.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Monday to Thursday
Hear the Today item about more four-day weeks ? They're already unremarkable in the mushrooming world of BBC technology. A current ad for someone to work on iPlayer software states "Fridays are reserved for personal development and cross-team guilds." That's code for the pub and paint-balling....
Chunky
The ever-helpful Justin Webb, at just 59 developing a presentation style based on The Major in Fawlty Towers, has shared his current thinking on broadcasting with the Radio Times.
"When BBC bosses say the young aren't listening to BBC radio any more and we have to treat this as an emergency and run around as if our pants were on fire, my first reaction is, 'Hey, what took you so long?'
"My second is... Perhaps the young will get old. It has happened before. Perhaps radio will outlive this panic, as it has outlived all others.
"'But it will only outlive the panic if well-meaning bosses resist the temptation to destroy the wireless in order to save it. The temptation will be to reduce the funding of the core programmes and chop up its output into the bite-sized chunks those in charge think 'yoof' might consume."
"When BBC bosses say the young aren't listening to BBC radio any more and we have to treat this as an emergency and run around as if our pants were on fire, my first reaction is, 'Hey, what took you so long?'
"My second is... Perhaps the young will get old. It has happened before. Perhaps radio will outlive this panic, as it has outlived all others.
"'But it will only outlive the panic if well-meaning bosses resist the temptation to destroy the wireless in order to save it. The temptation will be to reduce the funding of the core programmes and chop up its output into the bite-sized chunks those in charge think 'yoof' might consume."
Making a case
BBC drama chief Piers Wenger starts to articulate the continuing role for Auntie when it co-produces with the likes of HBO, Netflix, Amazon and more.
"I am often asked how, in the era of co-production, the BBC can argue that its programmes are unique when so many of them are co-produced. But ideas don’t start off co-produced. Rather, they are born out of numerous creative conversations between writers, producers and commissioning editors, with the aim of making something which is bold, original and unique. That often means going against the market with the ideas you are backing, but it’s a testimony to those grass-roots conversations that once ideas become scripts, there is a feeding frenzy for them internationally."
"I am often asked how, in the era of co-production, the BBC can argue that its programmes are unique when so many of them are co-produced. But ideas don’t start off co-produced. Rather, they are born out of numerous creative conversations between writers, producers and commissioning editors, with the aim of making something which is bold, original and unique. That often means going against the market with the ideas you are backing, but it’s a testimony to those grass-roots conversations that once ideas become scripts, there is a feeding frenzy for them internationally."
Monday, February 24, 2020
Conclusion
Finally, the curtain closes over the quest for pay transparency.
"Samira Ahmed and the BBC are pleased to have reached a settlement following the recent tribunal.
"We look forward to continuing to work together to make great programmes for audiences. Neither the BBC, Samira or the NUJ will be commenting further on this case."
Samira is a highly valued BBC presenter and now these matters have been concluded we all want to focus on the future.
We'll have to wait until the next Annual Report to see how close the Vine and Ahmed deals have ended up. And then we won't know anything much, because now they are not doing the similar work...
Running but not running
James Purnell, the BBC's Director of Radio and Education, has decided to throw himself into this year's London Marathon, on April 26th, raising funds for Mencap. He'll be 50 in March.
With just over 60 days to go, his training will be ramping up to 20-odd mile runs. A jog to work would cover 4.6 miles, so he might need to vary that route a bit. If you spot a bloke with orange BBC Sounds headphones, let me know.
The full zen of 26.2 miles will give Jim time to contemplate how he might get on with a new DG selected by Sir David Clementi....
The full zen of 26.2 miles will give Jim time to contemplate how he might get on with a new DG selected by Sir David Clementi....
Helen
Helen Macnamara occupies the true Siege Perilous in the current adminstration. She is Director General Propriety & Ethics.
As keeper of rules, you can imagine what fun she's having with Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings. She's bolstering her team by recruiting a £60k HR operative to try to sort out some guidelines around special advisors, historically hired in Westminster pubs and wine bars. The successful candidate will have continuing role to make sure a good number leave their employment quietly.
Helen, 44, went to Clare College, Cambridge; at some point she ran a pub in Northern Ireland, and dallied with dot-com companies before joining the Civil Service. She toiled with Tessa Jowell on the Olympic bid, and then worked on Housing. She has four children, finds time to be an external advisor to Goldsmiths, and is a member of the new women-only club, AllBright.
As keeper of rules, you can imagine what fun she's having with Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings. She's bolstering her team by recruiting a £60k HR operative to try to sort out some guidelines around special advisors, historically hired in Westminster pubs and wine bars. The successful candidate will have continuing role to make sure a good number leave their employment quietly.
Helen, 44, went to Clare College, Cambridge; at some point she ran a pub in Northern Ireland, and dallied with dot-com companies before joining the Civil Service. She toiled with Tessa Jowell on the Olympic bid, and then worked on Housing. She has four children, finds time to be an external advisor to Goldsmiths, and is a member of the new women-only club, AllBright.
- Late add. Helen is married to former BBC trust apparatchik Alex Towers, now toiling at BT. Helen had to declare the relationship when she was at the DCMS and he was Deputy Director of the BBC Trust.
Sunday, February 23, 2020
Do it properly
It's a bit odd. It seems that No 10 and Friends of No 10 want the BBC to lead on changing the way its funded. Baroness Cotes aka Nicky Morgan boosts her new daily allowance with an article for the Telegraph, in which she opines: "When reform is unavoidable, the best way to tackle it is to start the ball rolling yourself. The future leadership of the BBC would best aid their cause by accepting that “no change” is not an option."
She also thinks all BBC employees will eventually see the light: "I’ve lost count of the number of times BBC employees have acknowledged, without prompting, that the institution needs to change. But not everyone is there yet."
As I've said before, Mr Cummings wants a DG candidate ready and willing to bear their naked pearlescent neck to the TaxPayers' Alliance-sharpened fangs of an administration thirsting for blood.
The right way forward is for the currently-elected Government to set the terms of a public service broadcasting review, appoint someone credible to lead it, and let the BBC, like everyone else interested, make their case. We had the Beveridge Committee in 1951, the Pilkington Committee of 1960/62; John Stonehouse tried to set up the Annan Committee in 1970, Roy Jenkins actually got it going in 1974, and it reported in 1977. Mrs Thatcher had the Peacock Review in 1985/6.
Ms Morgan comes close to stating the case: "The key issue for 2020 is for the debate about the future funding of the BBC and its broader role to start and, more importantly, to be conducted in a transparent, open-minded and constructive way – avoiding defensiveness on the part of the BBC and its employees and any hint of settling old scores from those who want to see change. " This, however, is probably way too much process for Cummings and Matthew Elliott.
She also thinks all BBC employees will eventually see the light: "I’ve lost count of the number of times BBC employees have acknowledged, without prompting, that the institution needs to change. But not everyone is there yet."
As I've said before, Mr Cummings wants a DG candidate ready and willing to bear their naked pearlescent neck to the TaxPayers' Alliance-sharpened fangs of an administration thirsting for blood.
The right way forward is for the currently-elected Government to set the terms of a public service broadcasting review, appoint someone credible to lead it, and let the BBC, like everyone else interested, make their case. We had the Beveridge Committee in 1951, the Pilkington Committee of 1960/62; John Stonehouse tried to set up the Annan Committee in 1970, Roy Jenkins actually got it going in 1974, and it reported in 1977. Mrs Thatcher had the Peacock Review in 1985/6.
Ms Morgan comes close to stating the case: "The key issue for 2020 is for the debate about the future funding of the BBC and its broader role to start and, more importantly, to be conducted in a transparent, open-minded and constructive way – avoiding defensiveness on the part of the BBC and its employees and any hint of settling old scores from those who want to see change. " This, however, is probably way too much process for Cummings and Matthew Elliott.
Other work
I'm sure it's excellent that the BBC's Director of Creative Diversity June Sarpong is still a regular on Sky News' show The Pledge, has been working on a diversity series with the FT, and will be back with second series of podcast #ToTheWomen for Audible.
Last rites
UPDATE: People have begun paying their respects to the fallen mouse. pic.twitter.com/d7DTEbbo4s— Julian Farmer (@JulianDFarmer) February 22, 2020
Final update before I go home: the mouse is still here and seems to have inherited a couple of small plants. pic.twitter.com/QQCvQd0h7d— Julian Farmer (@JulianDFarmer) February 22, 2020
Not there
We note, without undue criticism, that cuts seem to have left BBC News without a correspondent or stringer who can give the coronavirus story in Northern Italy an appropriate dateline. Mr Jackson, who reported for Radio 4 this morning, was at Broadcasting House. This despite the story gaining momentum yesterday, with the advance cancellation of Serie A matches in the area. It is, of course, the weekend, which doesn't much matter to managers. But I bet they've got someone there by Monday.
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Luvvy
We welcome Nigel Huddleston MP to the DCMS. From his register of interests, it's almost as if he's been preparing for the role - accepting Channel 4's hospitality to the BAFTAs in 2019, ITV's hospitality to the National TV Awards in the same year, and Channel 4's ticket for the BAFTAs in 2017.
He entered Parliament in 2015, and since then has declared funding for visits to Taiwan, Israel and the West Bank, Pakistan, China, and the United States
He entered Parliament in 2015, and since then has declared funding for visits to Taiwan, Israel and the West Bank, Pakistan, China, and the United States
Friday, February 21, 2020
Proper desks for 30%
We haven't had a good piece of BBC building b*llocks for a bit, but here comes a belter from Building Magazine, about the new HQ in Wales. "Every aspect, from floorplan to lighting, and even to carpet patterning, has been designed with neurodiversity considerations in mind", we are told. Here's more, featuring the BBC's Alan Bainbridge.
Wayfinding is a huge neurodiversity concern and one to which the building takes a very graphic and illustrative approach. In the same way that a large department store or shopping centre may offer a simplified pictorial map of a floorplan by a stair or an escalator, so BBC HQ provides these at frequent points throughout the building.
But the map here is subtly embossed to provide tactile three-dimensionality and areas are depicted by bright colour boxes marked with coded legend symbols rather than text superimposed onto the graphics. In so doing, texts and graphics are kept separate and the potential challenge of navigating a large building – a source of frustration for neurotypical and neurodiverse employees alike – is assisted by a simplified and colour-based tool which, like the London Underground map, prioritises stark visual clarity over geographical accuracy.
Bainbridge has also been keen to secure what he calls “a variety of workspaces” to attend to a wide variety of neurological needs. So, while the floorplan is predominantly open-plan, only 30% of workspaces are at traditional fixed sit-down desks. The remainder range from high-stool bench workspaces to less formal upholstered seating in more relaxed areas. Power points are generously provided to facilitate this flexibility.
Multiple “quiet zones” have also been provided and a huge variety of meeting rooms are on offer. These range from acoustically separated single or group booths with soft upholstered surfaces to more formal frosted glass-fronted meeting rooms. “Open-plan can sometimes get bad press,” muses Bainbridge, “and we even had to have internal debates with some staff who were reluctant to move out of the private office set-up they had grown used to. But it is important to point out that that’s bad open-plan – good open-plan is about offering a choice of spaces, not a homogenous open floorplate.”
Wayfinding is a huge neurodiversity concern and one to which the building takes a very graphic and illustrative approach. In the same way that a large department store or shopping centre may offer a simplified pictorial map of a floorplan by a stair or an escalator, so BBC HQ provides these at frequent points throughout the building.
But the map here is subtly embossed to provide tactile three-dimensionality and areas are depicted by bright colour boxes marked with coded legend symbols rather than text superimposed onto the graphics. In so doing, texts and graphics are kept separate and the potential challenge of navigating a large building – a source of frustration for neurotypical and neurodiverse employees alike – is assisted by a simplified and colour-based tool which, like the London Underground map, prioritises stark visual clarity over geographical accuracy.
Bainbridge has also been keen to secure what he calls “a variety of workspaces” to attend to a wide variety of neurological needs. So, while the floorplan is predominantly open-plan, only 30% of workspaces are at traditional fixed sit-down desks. The remainder range from high-stool bench workspaces to less formal upholstered seating in more relaxed areas. Power points are generously provided to facilitate this flexibility.
Multiple “quiet zones” have also been provided and a huge variety of meeting rooms are on offer. These range from acoustically separated single or group booths with soft upholstered surfaces to more formal frosted glass-fronted meeting rooms. “Open-plan can sometimes get bad press,” muses Bainbridge, “and we even had to have internal debates with some staff who were reluctant to move out of the private office set-up they had grown used to. But it is important to point out that that’s bad open-plan – good open-plan is about offering a choice of spaces, not a homogenous open floorplate.”
Going postal
The BBC's favourite Post Office, on Great Portland Street W1, is losing its 'Crown' status, and will be operated as a franchise from May, promising all the same services and Saturday afternoon opening.
“Our new franchise partners, Mr Zahirkhan Subekhan Pathan and Mr Anish Mustufa Vohra, plan a major refurbishment of the premises, providing a brand new, modern Post Office branch and a retail offer of stationery, packaging, drinks and confectionery."
Mmm. Snacking while you queue.
“Our new franchise partners, Mr Zahirkhan Subekhan Pathan and Mr Anish Mustufa Vohra, plan a major refurbishment of the premises, providing a brand new, modern Post Office branch and a retail offer of stationery, packaging, drinks and confectionery."
Mmm. Snacking while you queue.
Picking pods
The first sign of twitchiness at the costs and returns of podcasts at the BBC: Jim Waterson, media editor at The Guardian, says Beyond Today is being cut from five editions a week to two.
Launched at the end of October 2018, it was a Colossal investment, with one giant foot in a fibre-glass canoe of modern, young thinking, and the other wedged in the fabric-bound 1950s kayak of Today. This mixed message has never really gone in any particular direction, nor caught a wave.
Beyond Today had editors, producers and two expensive presenters of its own. Let's hope the BBC looks after them.
Meanwhile, the rebranding of Brexitcast to Newscast is to go further - with Newscast becoming a daily event, with a single host.
This is not a bold confident move; this is mere apery of the success of the New York Times' The Daily, hosted by Michael Barbaro. It topped the monthly Podtrac charts in the States throughout 2019 and boasts 2 million listeners per episode. On the back of The Daily, the NYT now has a 30-strong audio team.
Launched at the end of October 2018, it was a Colossal investment, with one giant foot in a fibre-glass canoe of modern, young thinking, and the other wedged in the fabric-bound 1950s kayak of Today. This mixed message has never really gone in any particular direction, nor caught a wave.
Beyond Today had editors, producers and two expensive presenters of its own. Let's hope the BBC looks after them.
Meanwhile, the rebranding of Brexitcast to Newscast is to go further - with Newscast becoming a daily event, with a single host.
This is not a bold confident move; this is mere apery of the success of the New York Times' The Daily, hosted by Michael Barbaro. It topped the monthly Podtrac charts in the States throughout 2019 and boasts 2 million listeners per episode. On the back of The Daily, the NYT now has a 30-strong audio team.
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Numbers crunched
The latest public tv ratings, from the first full week in February, show there's still no room for Kay Burley's breakfast offering in Sky News Top 15 shows. That means an audience of less than 157,000. No wonder they're working on a new set.
Over at BBC Scotland, a rare appearance for the flagship weekday news hour, The Nine, at Number 11 in their Top 15 - achieved with 39,500 viewers across the UK.
Over at BBC Scotland, a rare appearance for the flagship weekday news hour, The Nine, at Number 11 in their Top 15 - achieved with 39,500 viewers across the UK.
More meetings
If you were an embattled news organisation about to shed 450 journalists, and wanted to get more bang for your bucks out of those who remained, what would you do first ?
Yes, of course, that's right; I'm sorry it was so obvious. Set up a committee to choose what stories to cover. And that's just what they're doing at Broadcasting House. It'll be led by Paul Royall, who already brings you the tv bulletins on BBC1, and Debbie Ramsay who minds Newsbeat on Radio 1 and 1Xtra, and it will feature the brains of people working on BBC Breakfast, marketing, audience engagement, yoof, diversity, women's issues, podcasts and all that good stuff. Bound to work, eh ?
Meanwhile, in another part of piloting a smaller workforce, Nisha Kapur will lead a team providing stories under the heading "Growing Up, Learning and Identity".
Nisha is currently commissioning editor for BBC Africa. She's well connected - only last year she was spotted with now-Culture Minister John Whittingdale and a possible replacement for Lord Hall.
Yes, of course, that's right; I'm sorry it was so obvious. Set up a committee to choose what stories to cover. And that's just what they're doing at Broadcasting House. It'll be led by Paul Royall, who already brings you the tv bulletins on BBC1, and Debbie Ramsay who minds Newsbeat on Radio 1 and 1Xtra, and it will feature the brains of people working on BBC Breakfast, marketing, audience engagement, yoof, diversity, women's issues, podcasts and all that good stuff. Bound to work, eh ?
Meanwhile, in another part of piloting a smaller workforce, Nisha Kapur will lead a team providing stories under the heading "Growing Up, Learning and Identity".
Nisha is currently commissioning editor for BBC Africa. She's well connected - only last year she was spotted with now-Culture Minister John Whittingdale and a possible replacement for Lord Hall.
Two controllers, different approaches
At Radio 4, hirsuite Controller Mohit Bakaya continues to let the Times Radio Child Catcher Stig Abell prowl the corridors of Broadcasting House, tapping up want-away presenters, on his promenades to and from presenting on Front Row.
At Radio 5 Live, Heidi Dawson has merely circulated an internal ad for a new weekend presenter for Up All Night. This will be a part-time fixed term contract for someone to broadcast every Saturday and Sunday from 0100 to 0500, filling the space left by Dotun Adebayo's move to weeknights.
But it's going to be a very different show. "The expected volume of live content is 15 minutes per hour".
Funnily enough, on a News and Sports channel, the successful candidate "may be required to respond to breaking and developing news stories". In the same paragraph: "Formal journalism training is not a requirement".
At Radio 5 Live, Heidi Dawson has merely circulated an internal ad for a new weekend presenter for Up All Night. This will be a part-time fixed term contract for someone to broadcast every Saturday and Sunday from 0100 to 0500, filling the space left by Dotun Adebayo's move to weeknights.
But it's going to be a very different show. "The expected volume of live content is 15 minutes per hour".
Funnily enough, on a News and Sports channel, the successful candidate "may be required to respond to breaking and developing news stories". In the same paragraph: "Formal journalism training is not a requirement".
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
There she is
Whither, I hear you cry, Gwyneth Williams, former Controller of Radio 4 ?
Tomorrow she turns interviewer at Harvard's Kennedy Institute of Politics, for a session with Michael Sandel (who featured regularly on R4 during Gwyneth's tenure) entitled "Does Truth Have Future ?" Gwyneth is enjoying thinking time as a Spring 2020 Fellow at Harvard's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy.
Tomorrow she turns interviewer at Harvard's Kennedy Institute of Politics, for a session with Michael Sandel (who featured regularly on R4 during Gwyneth's tenure) entitled "Does Truth Have Future ?" Gwyneth is enjoying thinking time as a Spring 2020 Fellow at Harvard's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy.
DG2020 - 7
Ms Jay Hunt has been appointed as a Governor of the British Film Institute. The news has been announced on gov.uk, but I suspect they let Ms Hunt, never knowingly undersold, write her own bio, probably precised lovingly from her application to be the next DG.....
Jay Hunt is Apple TV + Creative Director for Europe. She is the only person to have led BBC One, Channel 5 and Channel 4.
Hunt started her career at BBC News working on Newsnight and Panorama before becoming editor of both the One O’clock and Six O’clock News. She was Controller of BBC Daytime and Director of Programmes at Channel 5, before returning to the BBC in 2008 to run BBC One. Her commissions there included Sherlock, Luther and Mrs Brown’s Boys.
In 2011 she was made the first Chief Creative Officer of Channel 4. Over the next 7 years, she led what was described as a “creative renaissance” delivering global hits from Gogglebox to Humans, Catastrophe to Hunted, First Dates to Derry Girls.
Jay Hunt is Apple TV + Creative Director for Europe. She is the only person to have led BBC One, Channel 5 and Channel 4.
Hunt started her career at BBC News working on Newsnight and Panorama before becoming editor of both the One O’clock and Six O’clock News. She was Controller of BBC Daytime and Director of Programmes at Channel 5, before returning to the BBC in 2008 to run BBC One. Her commissions there included Sherlock, Luther and Mrs Brown’s Boys.
In 2011 she was made the first Chief Creative Officer of Channel 4. Over the next 7 years, she led what was described as a “creative renaissance” delivering global hits from Gogglebox to Humans, Catastrophe to Hunted, First Dates to Derry Girls.
More vacancies
So farewell, Donalda MacKinnon, standing down as Thought Leader BBC Scotland later this year. She will be 60 in December, and has been in post four years, and thirty three years overall with Auntie.
She's secured millions more in spending for Pacific Quay, but never enough to satisfy the Nats, for whom BBC Scotland has Quisling status. Cynics might note she's announced her intended departure just before the first anniversary of the BBC Scotland channel, which has hardly roared away from the starting blocks in terms of audience figures.
Now Donalda can concentrate more on her previously unpaid work as company secretary of Cafe Gandolfi and Gandolfi Fish, the Glasgow eateries led by husband Seumas, and run by their two sons.
Can the Gàidhealtachd keep control ? Both Donalda and her predecessor Ken MacQuarrie have the language, and came to the job via educational programming. Maybe the headhunters will be pointed in that direction....
She's secured millions more in spending for Pacific Quay, but never enough to satisfy the Nats, for whom BBC Scotland has Quisling status. Cynics might note she's announced her intended departure just before the first anniversary of the BBC Scotland channel, which has hardly roared away from the starting blocks in terms of audience figures.
Now Donalda can concentrate more on her previously unpaid work as company secretary of Cafe Gandolfi and Gandolfi Fish, the Glasgow eateries led by husband Seumas, and run by their two sons.
Can the Gàidhealtachd keep control ? Both Donalda and her predecessor Ken MacQuarrie have the language, and came to the job via educational programming. Maybe the headhunters will be pointed in that direction....
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Spoons
L'Affaire Sabisky has a few life lessons for those involved.
Promoting yourself on social media is risky. Joining Twitter or Instagram is like walking into a very, very large Wetherspoons where millions of people you don't know say unpleasant things to you, which they'd never, in real life, dare to say to your face. You provoke more of them into action if you are promoting an opinion, or just showing your body and fashion tastes in soft-focus photographs.
This global branch of Wetherspoons is people by folk who have all empathy-required antennae removed. They got to Sabisky early - but a man who is embroiled in a world of thuribles, eugenics, and sex advice probably has issues that merit concern, not condemnation. The bloke who was Twittering last week proudly about bringing a new audience to his High Church religious podcast has now closed his various Twitter accounts, his blogs and all back episodes.
Meanwhile, sensible journalists will hunt for the person who contracted this 'contractor', seek a copy of the contract, and details of the vetting procedure that was bound to have taken place for someone working at the very heart of government.
Promoting yourself on social media is risky. Joining Twitter or Instagram is like walking into a very, very large Wetherspoons where millions of people you don't know say unpleasant things to you, which they'd never, in real life, dare to say to your face. You provoke more of them into action if you are promoting an opinion, or just showing your body and fashion tastes in soft-focus photographs.
This global branch of Wetherspoons is people by folk who have all empathy-required antennae removed. They got to Sabisky early - but a man who is embroiled in a world of thuribles, eugenics, and sex advice probably has issues that merit concern, not condemnation. The bloke who was Twittering last week proudly about bringing a new audience to his High Church religious podcast has now closed his various Twitter accounts, his blogs and all back episodes.
Meanwhile, sensible journalists will hunt for the person who contracted this 'contractor', seek a copy of the contract, and details of the vetting procedure that was bound to have taken place for someone working at the very heart of government.
Losing the plot
Now we learn from the paywalled Telegraph, that Boris "Dr Jekyll" Johnson disagrees with Dominic "Mr Hyde" Cummings about when and how hard to 'whack' the BBC.
So we move from Alice in Wonderland to a Hammer Horror world, where special advisors who brief journalists are threatened with their jobs and/or fired, while the Senior Special Advisor can't keep his mouth shut in the presence of newspaper political editors. No 10 is transformed into the Grand Guignol, and there are now, extraordinarily, 'friends' of the Prime Minister briefing against 'friends' of Dominic Cummings.
If there were any wise heads left in the Parliamentary Conservative Party, they'd be popping round to say this has to stop, with the unelected one turfed out asap. But there aren't.
So we move from Alice in Wonderland to a Hammer Horror world, where special advisors who brief journalists are threatened with their jobs and/or fired, while the Senior Special Advisor can't keep his mouth shut in the presence of newspaper political editors. No 10 is transformed into the Grand Guignol, and there are now, extraordinarily, 'friends' of the Prime Minister briefing against 'friends' of Dominic Cummings.
If there were any wise heads left in the Parliamentary Conservative Party, they'd be popping round to say this has to stop, with the unelected one turfed out asap. But there aren't.
Monday, February 17, 2020
More Andrew
Not really my patch, but the diary writers who read this blog might like to know that controversial special advisor Andrew Sabisky is the grandson of London-Marathon-prime mover Chris Brasher and his tennis-playing wife Shirley Bloomer. Their elder daughter Kate also played on the WTA tour, and married Ed Sabisky, from Lawrenceville, New Jersey, in 1990.
Ed, amongst other things, is Executive Director, Finance, Property & Pensions for the union, UNITE. He spent 22 years with General Motors including being CFO at Vauxhall Motors followed by spells as CFO of Interleasing UK and managing director of Masterlease Europe. His current passion is XPFC, a cloud-based way of booking demonstrator cars for fleet purchasers.
Andrew is the eldest of six children. He's married, and trying to complete a PGCE.
Ed, amongst other things, is Executive Director, Finance, Property & Pensions for the union, UNITE. He spent 22 years with General Motors including being CFO at Vauxhall Motors followed by spells as CFO of Interleasing UK and managing director of Masterlease Europe. His current passion is XPFC, a cloud-based way of booking demonstrator cars for fleet purchasers.
Andrew is the eldest of six children. He's married, and trying to complete a PGCE.
Absolutely tier 1 wifing from Mrs Sabisky this afternoon pic.twitter.com/rKwM8MHrgO— Andrew Sabisky (@AndrewSabisky) July 8, 2018
Name your price
Times Radio have made their first signing, picking up John Pienaar, BBC Deputy Political Editor,
as 'drive' presenter. It's interesting that they're using the language of 5Live and LBC, rather than Radio 4, in their schedules.
John, 63 (Bromley Technical High School, then NCTJ training at Highbury College, Portsmouth) is a Crystal Palace fan. Stig Abell, the Times Radio cuckoo in the Radio 4 Front Row nest, said Pienaar’s hiring would help make his station a “new destination for those people hungry for quality reporting and trusted, expert analysis”. He would have known where to pitch a salary offer - Mr Pienaar's current BBC deal is between £160k and £164,999.
as 'drive' presenter. It's interesting that they're using the language of 5Live and LBC, rather than Radio 4, in their schedules.
John, 63 (Bromley Technical High School, then NCTJ training at Highbury College, Portsmouth) is a Crystal Palace fan. Stig Abell, the Times Radio cuckoo in the Radio 4 Front Row nest, said Pienaar’s hiring would help make his station a “new destination for those people hungry for quality reporting and trusted, expert analysis”. He would have known where to pitch a salary offer - Mr Pienaar's current BBC deal is between £160k and £164,999.
Paying attention
Former BBC HR supremo Valerie Hughes D'Aeth heads to Auckland, New Zealand for the first time at the end of this month. She's opening the Workforce Analytics and HR Data conference with what's billed as an "International Keynote: Moving Into An Evidence-Based HR Approach With Analytics".
That'll be the sort of data analytics that spotted Carrie Gracie's pay disparity with John Sopel; Sarah Montague's with John Humphrys; Samira Ahmed with Jeremy Vine; and Gary Lineker's with anybody you care to mention.
That'll be the sort of data analytics that spotted Carrie Gracie's pay disparity with John Sopel; Sarah Montague's with John Humphrys; Samira Ahmed with Jeremy Vine; and Gary Lineker's with anybody you care to mention.
Having it both ways
It's come to something when you can point to Grant Shapps as a Tory with a more rational approach to the BBC than those speaking for No 10.
In the Sunday Times, Tim Shipman quoted a 'senior source' thus: “We are not bluffing on the licence fee. We are having a consultation and we will whack it. It has got to be a subscription model."
Meanwhile Grant Shapps, Duty-Minister-For-The-Weekend-but-not-Today, told Sophy Ridge on Sky News (audience around 200k): “There is a consultation out there. It is just a consultation at this stage. There are no further decisions made at all.
“The BBC is a much loved national treasure. We all want it to be a huge success. But everybody, including the BBC themselves, recognises that in a changing world the BBC itself will have to change.
“But it is simply not the case that there is some preordained decision about the future funding of the BBC out there. The charter runs to 2027 so there is long way to go on all these decisions.”
In the Sunday Times, Tim Shipman quoted a 'senior source' thus: “We are not bluffing on the licence fee. We are having a consultation and we will whack it. It has got to be a subscription model."
Meanwhile Grant Shapps, Duty-Minister-For-The-Weekend-but-not-Today, told Sophy Ridge on Sky News (audience around 200k): “There is a consultation out there. It is just a consultation at this stage. There are no further decisions made at all.
“The BBC is a much loved national treasure. We all want it to be a huge success. But everybody, including the BBC themselves, recognises that in a changing world the BBC itself will have to change.
“But it is simply not the case that there is some preordained decision about the future funding of the BBC out there. The charter runs to 2027 so there is long way to go on all these decisions.”
Sunday, February 16, 2020
How leaders are written
Do you think, given today's Sunday Times' lead story, and its accompanying leader, the BBC's ever-generous James Purnell might now be regretting giving News UK some free recruitment publicity ?
Yes, it's too big
I wonder what Andrew Sabisky, the advisor newly hired by Dominic Cummings after his hunt for weirdos who think differently, says about the BBC.
It seems the BBC has not choked off the thoughts of Mr Sabisky, from his previous social media handle....
Freelance writer (@Spectator @IBTimesUK etc): politics, education, #superduperforecasting, #SpendtheSix. As seen on the BBC!
this isn't some right-wing shibboleth either: left-wing media figures are well aware of the way that the vast scope of the BBC's output chokes off any attempt by anyone to do anything different (unless, like Unherd, it has philanthropic backing) https://t.co/vIibBPZr0P— Andrew Sabisky (@AndrewSabisky) February 5, 2020
It seems the BBC has not choked off the thoughts of Mr Sabisky, from his previous social media handle....
Freelance writer (@Spectator @IBTimesUK etc): politics, education, #superduperforecasting, #SpendtheSix. As seen on the BBC!
Exercise control
Oi, Mohit. Stig Abell's principal employer is The Times; his current focus is on securing a presenter line-up for a rival to Radio 4, to be called Times Radio. Yet he is still allowed regular access to Broadcasting House to present Front Row on Radio 4 - last appearance on Thursday. We mentioned this ten days ago, and nothing has happened.
The Times needs some BBC names to start; they'll be hoping that having secured Tim Levell from Radio 5Live, he'll convince his former presenter Emma Barnett to sign up. She hardly ever travels to Salford now, and double-your-money at The Shard might well seem attractive.
The Times needs some BBC names to start; they'll be hoping that having secured Tim Levell from Radio 5Live, he'll convince his former presenter Emma Barnett to sign up. She hardly ever travels to Salford now, and double-your-money at The Shard might well seem attractive.
What just happened ?
There's a couple of possible explanations for today's apocalyptic lead in The Sunday Times, headlined "No 10 tells the BBC the licence fee will be scrapped".
The first, and my favourite, is that political editor Tim Shipman went for a Friday night relaxer with "senior aides to the Prime Minister","senior source", "source" and "No 10 source" (not sure how many of them are the same person), and someone found an old bottle of TaxPayers' Alliance artisan gin that was iffy. Others were drinking IEA Old Tosh craft ale with frankly too much sediment, and the evening finished with past-their-sell-by-date shots of Freedom Association Jagermeister.
The second is that we're seeing a tactic applied previously by John Whittingdale - muse in public on a terrifying end game for the BBC, in the hope that your eventual almost-as-bad outcome is seen by voters as common-sense, caring Conservatism.
The Sunday Times is paywalled, but I'm sure a Murdoch-owned newspaper currently setting up a rival to Radio 4 won't mind me sharing the bullet-points of the No 10 'blueprint'.
● Scrap the licence fee and replace it with a subscription model
● Force the BBC to sell off the vast majority of its 61 radio stations but safeguard Radio 3 and Radio 4
● Reduce the number of the corporation’s national television channels from its current 10
● Scale back the BBC website
● Invest more in the World Service
● Ban BBC stars from cashing in with lucrative second jobs.
The first, and my favourite, is that political editor Tim Shipman went for a Friday night relaxer with "senior aides to the Prime Minister","senior source", "source" and "No 10 source" (not sure how many of them are the same person), and someone found an old bottle of TaxPayers' Alliance artisan gin that was iffy. Others were drinking IEA Old Tosh craft ale with frankly too much sediment, and the evening finished with past-their-sell-by-date shots of Freedom Association Jagermeister.
The second is that we're seeing a tactic applied previously by John Whittingdale - muse in public on a terrifying end game for the BBC, in the hope that your eventual almost-as-bad outcome is seen by voters as common-sense, caring Conservatism.
The Sunday Times is paywalled, but I'm sure a Murdoch-owned newspaper currently setting up a rival to Radio 4 won't mind me sharing the bullet-points of the No 10 'blueprint'.
● Scrap the licence fee and replace it with a subscription model
● Force the BBC to sell off the vast majority of its 61 radio stations but safeguard Radio 3 and Radio 4
● Reduce the number of the corporation’s national television channels from its current 10
● Scale back the BBC website
● Invest more in the World Service
● Ban BBC stars from cashing in with lucrative second jobs.
Saturday, February 15, 2020
The Borg is Back
I popped out to the pictures, and blow me, Carrie Symonds, who lost over Sajid Javid, has won one back - getting Boris Johnson to put her old boss John Whittingdale back into the DCMS. Sensitive BBC managers should be prevented from Googling the 1929 St Valentine's Day Massacre.
For the benefit of new readers, let's precis the life of John Flasby Lawrance Whittingdale. In 2016, former BBC Director of Radio Helen Boaden described him as a man with a "cycloptic obession with needlessly diminishing the BBC’s services to the benefit of its competitors."
He likes heavy metal, and is a particular fan of Deep Purple.
He's no fan of James Purnell.
He got a black eye in June 2016.
He squired a dominatrix to the 2013 MTV Awards in Amsterdam.
His special advisers in his first run at Culture included Carrie Symonds and Mimi Macejkova.
And here's Whittingdale's own words on the utterly transparent process of Charter Renewal, over monthly dinners with Tony Hall.
He likes heavy metal, and is a particular fan of Deep Purple.
He's no fan of James Purnell.
He got a black eye in June 2016.
He squired a dominatrix to the 2013 MTV Awards in Amsterdam.
His special advisers in his first run at Culture included Carrie Symonds and Mimi Macejkova.
And here's Whittingdale's own words on the utterly transparent process of Charter Renewal, over monthly dinners with Tony Hall.
Friday, February 14, 2020
Dynasty
Caroline Dinenage MP, newly arrived as Minister of State, at the DCMS, probably knows more about telly than her new boss, Oliver Dowden.
Caroline's dad is ITV legend Fred, still presenting Meridian News for the south-east of England at 77. Caroline (Wykeham House School, Oaklands Comprehensive and Swansea University) started in politics on Winchester Council in 1998. She married Naval Officer Carlos Garreta in 2002, and they had two children. She contested, unsuccessfully, Portsmouth South in 2005, and was finally elected for Gosport in 2010.
In 2014 she married Mark Lancaster, the MP for Milton Keynes, who stood down last year. They live together in Gosport.
Caroline's dad is ITV legend Fred, still presenting Meridian News for the south-east of England at 77. Caroline (Wykeham House School, Oaklands Comprehensive and Swansea University) started in politics on Winchester Council in 1998. She married Naval Officer Carlos Garreta in 2002, and they had two children. She contested, unsuccessfully, Portsmouth South in 2005, and was finally elected for Gosport in 2010.
Fleshing out minutes
Here's a clearly incomplete minute from the November meeting of the BBC Board.
"The Board noted a briefing on the Samira Ahmed employment tribunal."
What's missing ? Either "The Executive has taken the best legal advice and we're confident of winning". Or "X of the 8 [highly-qualified] non-executives asked: Are you sure ?"
The Director of Radio Education, James Purnell, advised that meeting that "BBC productions had featured as five of the top ten podcasts on the Apple UK Chart." I'm sure he also made the Board members aware that the Apple UK Chart is not a chart as any qualified statistician would understand it.
Then, a whole section on English Local Radio is redacted for future publication. We're still waiting.
"The Board noted a briefing on the Samira Ahmed employment tribunal."
What's missing ? Either "The Executive has taken the best legal advice and we're confident of winning". Or "X of the 8 [highly-qualified] non-executives asked: Are you sure ?"
The Director of Radio Education, James Purnell, advised that meeting that "BBC productions had featured as five of the top ten podcasts on the Apple UK Chart." I'm sure he also made the Board members aware that the Apple UK Chart is not a chart as any qualified statistician would understand it.
Then, a whole section on English Local Radio is redacted for future publication. We're still waiting.
Performance indicators
Many thanks to the person within the BBC who knows how to put minutes, etc, onto the website.
There's bits and bobs to consider in the October notes from the BBC Board. In the aftermath of Naga Munchetty speaking her mind about Donald Trump's tweets on BBC Breakfast, the focus is on the process and culture that found her first to be at fault, and then cleared by the intervention of DG.
"The issue had highlighted the need to look at what lessons could be learned about the complaints
process and Chris Banatvala, an independent media consultant, had been asked to review the process, reporting to the Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee. It was noted that the issue had also exposed questions about the BBC’s culture that needed to be addressed."
[Chris was formerly Director of Standards at OFCOM and is a member of The Sky News Board]
There is mention of pay grievances, but no sense of the impending storms facing the BBC - no hint that Samira Ahmed's case might be coming to court.
And there's a sense of scrabbling around for answers on how to get more 'love' from licence-fee payers.
"The Board received a presentation on research that defined how audiences derive value from the BBC. This showed that the perception of value among audiences was a driver of trust and love for the BBC, along with views on the licence fee.... Overall there was a challenge in terms of value with younger audiences, but declines were also being seen in older audiences too.
"To address these challenges, it was noted that detailed insight was being developed into priority areas, with divisions being supported by data to help them unlock more value from the BBC’s portfolio. A set of performance indicators had been developed, aligned to the drivers, and draft targets for 20/21 were in development."
Good luck with that.
There's bits and bobs to consider in the October notes from the BBC Board. In the aftermath of Naga Munchetty speaking her mind about Donald Trump's tweets on BBC Breakfast, the focus is on the process and culture that found her first to be at fault, and then cleared by the intervention of DG.
"The issue had highlighted the need to look at what lessons could be learned about the complaints
process and Chris Banatvala, an independent media consultant, had been asked to review the process, reporting to the Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee. It was noted that the issue had also exposed questions about the BBC’s culture that needed to be addressed."
[Chris was formerly Director of Standards at OFCOM and is a member of The Sky News Board]
There is mention of pay grievances, but no sense of the impending storms facing the BBC - no hint that Samira Ahmed's case might be coming to court.
And there's a sense of scrabbling around for answers on how to get more 'love' from licence-fee payers.
"The Board received a presentation on research that defined how audiences derive value from the BBC. This showed that the perception of value among audiences was a driver of trust and love for the BBC, along with views on the licence fee.... Overall there was a challenge in terms of value with younger audiences, but declines were also being seen in older audiences too.
"To address these challenges, it was noted that detailed insight was being developed into priority areas, with divisions being supported by data to help them unlock more value from the BBC’s portfolio. A set of performance indicators had been developed, aligned to the drivers, and draft targets for 20/21 were in development."
Good luck with that.
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Oliver !
The new Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, 41, only entered the Commons in 2015, as MP for Hertsmere, which includes Elstree. In his maiden speech, he joshed "That allows me to make a legitimate claim to be the member of Parliament for Albert Square". His only other Commons reference to the BBC since then has been to note the financial difficulties of Capita, who have the contract to collect the licence fee. Outside the house, back in 2012, Mr Dowden, then David Cameron'a deputy chief of staff, admitted in an interview with US public radio that he listened to Today on Radio 4 to find out what was going on, and then usually spent the rest of the day in crisis management.
Mr Dowden was born in Park Street and grew up in Bricket Wood, nestling near the M1/M25 junction. His route to politics took him from Parmiter's comprehensive in Watford, to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, studying law ('not very enjoyable'). Student jobs included re-wiring imported lamps for the UK market in a warehouse in Dunstable. (Mum still works in Boot's in London Colney). He joined a City law firm, took a year off to teach English in rural Japan, completed his training, but swerved a legal career to join lobbyists LLM, a fledgling Tory in a largely-left leaning firm. He campaigned twice with David Cameron, with a year away at PR firm, Hill Knowlton.
As part of Team Boris, he's been largely at the Cabinet Office, and recently concentrated on the Government Digital Service, where he's noticed Amazon, Air BnB and Spotify, and says all roads lead back to data, whatever that means.
On Facebook, Mr Dowden lists his favourite film as The Godfather, and his favourite tv show as Dad's Army.
Mr Dowden was born in Park Street and grew up in Bricket Wood, nestling near the M1/M25 junction. His route to politics took him from Parmiter's comprehensive in Watford, to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, studying law ('not very enjoyable'). Student jobs included re-wiring imported lamps for the UK market in a warehouse in Dunstable. (Mum still works in Boot's in London Colney). He joined a City law firm, took a year off to teach English in rural Japan, completed his training, but swerved a legal career to join lobbyists LLM, a fledgling Tory in a largely-left leaning firm. He campaigned twice with David Cameron, with a year away at PR firm, Hill Knowlton.
As part of Team Boris, he's been largely at the Cabinet Office, and recently concentrated on the Government Digital Service, where he's noticed Amazon, Air BnB and Spotify, and says all roads lead back to data, whatever that means.
On Facebook, Mr Dowden lists his favourite film as The Godfather, and his favourite tv show as Dad's Army.
Lewis to leave
Two blokes gone from the world of BBC Popular Music. Lewis Carnie, of Radio 2, has decided to follow Ben Cooper, of Radio 1 out of the door, held open by the appointment of Lorna Clarke as James Purnell's preferred Controller of Pop.
Under Lorna, Lewis had been re-invented as Senior Head of Content Commissioning for Radio 2, whereas previously he enjoyed the title Head of Radio 2. He tried Emergenetics, but it clearly didn't work.
Under Lorna, Lewis had been re-invented as Senior Head of Content Commissioning for Radio 2, whereas previously he enjoyed the title Head of Radio 2. He tried Emergenetics, but it clearly didn't work.
Me Julie
Julie Cullen, who's been running 6Music's presence in MediacityUK, Salford, is moving office to become Managing Editor of 5 Live.
Julie joined the BBC in 1996, as a Broadcast Journalist at Elstree, moving up to Senior Broadcast Journalist at BBC London. She started with 6Music in 2002; from 2004 to 2009, she co-hosted The Music Week. She's been picked by new Controller Heidi Dawson, to fill behind her at 5Live.
Julie joined the BBC in 1996, as a Broadcast Journalist at Elstree, moving up to Senior Broadcast Journalist at BBC London. She started with 6Music in 2002; from 2004 to 2009, she co-hosted The Music Week. She's been picked by new Controller Heidi Dawson, to fill behind her at 5Live.
Does Kamal care ?
The struggle continues within BBC News. You can re-tweet things without comment. Newsnight editor Esme Wren chose to retweet this...
Victoria Derbyshire added her twopence-worth.Investigations matter. Original journalism matters. @BBCNews https://t.co/LUyXSxFGFq— Kamal Ahmed (@bbckamal) February 12, 2020
Do reconsider the decision to close our programme then. https://t.co/EHbrzHsFQf— Victoria Derbyshire (@vicderbyshire) February 12, 2020
Burns off early
More deck-clearing by the Government. Alongside yesterday's confirmation that Melanie Dawes will be the new CEO of Ofcom, the current chair, Lord Burns, known in previous existences as 'Teflon Terry' will depart before the end of the year. That's one short of his four-year contract.
He'll be 76 next month. Amongst his many sage reports for Government was a two-year look at the governance of the BBC, starting in 2003. It reported in 2005, and recommended both the end of the BBC Governors (accepted) and the creation of a Public Service Broadcasting Commission (biffed).
Meanwhile, we've noted before that Melanie's husband is former Telegraph scribe Benedict Brogan. One hopes they're Mel and Benny at home. Benny met twice with Boris when he was London Mayor; in 2013, they dined with Tony Gallagher at trendy Islington's Moro; in 2014, the topic of their meeting was withheld under S38 of the Freedom of Information Act.
He'll be 76 next month. Amongst his many sage reports for Government was a two-year look at the governance of the BBC, starting in 2003. It reported in 2005, and recommended both the end of the BBC Governors (accepted) and the creation of a Public Service Broadcasting Commission (biffed).
Meanwhile, we've noted before that Melanie's husband is former Telegraph scribe Benedict Brogan. One hopes they're Mel and Benny at home. Benny met twice with Boris when he was London Mayor; in 2013, they dined with Tony Gallagher at trendy Islington's Moro; in 2014, the topic of their meeting was withheld under S38 of the Freedom of Information Act.
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
I remember it well
Sir David Clementi's 20-odd minute speech to BBC staff at MediaCityUK may be over - so this isn't checked against delivery. Here's a fairly punchy section about the current Government's False Memory Syndrome about free licence fees for the Over-75s.
As you know, in 2015 the Government decided to stop funding free TV licences for the over-75s.
The Government and the BBC agreed that the Corporation would consult openly and then decide what to do; that we would take over the responsibility both for determining the policy for over-75s, and for funding that policy.
There was no agreement, as is often claimed, that the BBC would simply copy the Government’s concession.
Both Tony Hall, the Director-General, and John Whittingdale, the then Secretary of State, are on the record that, at the time the 2015 Agreement was reached, reform of the current concession was a
possible outcome.
I am quite used in life to occasions where two parties to an agreement – a few years later – have a rather different view of what was agreed.
But this is the only occasion that I can recall where both parties to an agreement, in this case the BBC and the then Government, speak with total accord. Meanwhile, a whole raft of observers, politicians, commentators and journalists, who were nowhere near the 2015 Agreement at the time but would like to put blame on the BBC, keep insisting that something else was agreed – and that the BBC has not honoured this “something else”.
The Agreement, including the need to consult, was written into an Act of Parliament, so the notion that the BBC isn’t keeping to its commitment is plain wrong. We have honoured in full both the letter
and the spirit of the 2015 Agreement.
As you know, in 2015 the Government decided to stop funding free TV licences for the over-75s.
The Government and the BBC agreed that the Corporation would consult openly and then decide what to do; that we would take over the responsibility both for determining the policy for over-75s, and for funding that policy.
There was no agreement, as is often claimed, that the BBC would simply copy the Government’s concession.
Both Tony Hall, the Director-General, and John Whittingdale, the then Secretary of State, are on the record that, at the time the 2015 Agreement was reached, reform of the current concession was a
possible outcome.
I am quite used in life to occasions where two parties to an agreement – a few years later – have a rather different view of what was agreed.
But this is the only occasion that I can recall where both parties to an agreement, in this case the BBC and the then Government, speak with total accord. Meanwhile, a whole raft of observers, politicians, commentators and journalists, who were nowhere near the 2015 Agreement at the time but would like to put blame on the BBC, keep insisting that something else was agreed – and that the BBC has not honoured this “something else”.
The Agreement, including the need to consult, was written into an Act of Parliament, so the notion that the BBC isn’t keeping to its commitment is plain wrong. We have honoured in full both the letter
and the spirit of the 2015 Agreement.
Hayley upped
For completeness, we learn from The Times that Hayley Valentine, launch editor of all newses on the BBC Scotland channel, has been promoted to Head of Multi-platform Production in Glasgow. She succeeds Pauline Law, who's gone to Scottish indie, IWC.
Hayley's now looks after some 300 staff, including teams working in Music, Entertainment, Events, Digital, as well as the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Hayley's now looks after some 300 staff, including teams working in Music, Entertainment, Events, Digital, as well as the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
DG2020 - 6
I'm guessing - but may be wrong - that there's a sort of purdah now for internal candidates, as the DG Stakes 2020 run their course. And that Bob Shennan, as Group Managing Director, will speak more often, say, than lame-ducked Lord Hall. This presumes he's not a candidate, though of course, would be well-placed to hold warmly and closely the hand of an outsider, should that be the eventual choice.
So today Bob has a letter in The Times, rebutting the business analysis of Tory MP and former mortgage-broker James Cartlidge. Mr Cartlidge, who boasts a degree in economics from Manchester University, suggested the rest of the world could pay for the BBC via subscriptions to the iPlayer. Bob points out that vast swathes of current BBC output is already spoken for around the globe, in pre-production deals with other companies.
Whilst there may be verbal purdah for internal candidates, Charlotte Moore, at Content, is waving her hands by moving Top Gear and The Repair Shop to BBC1.
So today Bob has a letter in The Times, rebutting the business analysis of Tory MP and former mortgage-broker James Cartlidge. Mr Cartlidge, who boasts a degree in economics from Manchester University, suggested the rest of the world could pay for the BBC via subscriptions to the iPlayer. Bob points out that vast swathes of current BBC output is already spoken for around the globe, in pre-production deals with other companies.
Whilst there may be verbal purdah for internal candidates, Charlotte Moore, at Content, is waving her hands by moving Top Gear and The Repair Shop to BBC1.
DG 2020 - 5
A source somewhat closer to Elisabeth Murdoch than 'i' media watcher Adam Sherwin says she's not a contender for the BBC Director General vacancy. Mr Sherwin's Twitterfeed plaintively re-tweets a remark hinting that 'she would say that, wouldn't she', pointing to Shiv Roy, part of the warring fictional media dynasty in the HBO drama series Succession.
Meanwhile charismatic BBC chairman Sir David Clementi takes to a podium somewhere inside the BBC bit of MediaCityUK tonight, warning that ‘a diminished BBC is a weakened United Kingdom'. He indicates, excitingly, that decisions about future funding of the Corporation shouldn't be taken 'in isolation'. One presumes he's trying to solicit applications from potential DGs to stand by his side at the barricades.
Meanwhile charismatic BBC chairman Sir David Clementi takes to a podium somewhere inside the BBC bit of MediaCityUK tonight, warning that ‘a diminished BBC is a weakened United Kingdom'. He indicates, excitingly, that decisions about future funding of the Corporation shouldn't be taken 'in isolation'. One presumes he's trying to solicit applications from potential DGs to stand by his side at the barricades.
Declaration
An oft-repeated piece of HR advice gets another run-out from me. When you apply for a promotion, make sure you don't lose the job you've got in the process.
BBC Editorial Director Kamal Ahmed has damaged his chances of leading the News division, and blown any chance of he may have had of the DG vacancy. He signed up to appear on a panel at a conference run by Aberdeen Standard Investments, at Old Billingsgate, on Thursday 6th February. The 40-minute session, chaired by former BBC business presenter Steph McGovern, started at 10.40 - Kamal could have led the morning meeting, and still got there in good time by taxi. The Mail on Sunday, which publicised Mr Ahmed's appearance, said he was paid £12k. Eight days earlier Mr Ahmed, in a designer t-shirt, had perched on a bar-stool as senior managers announced that they were looking for at least 450 post closures in News.
The fee is being returned. Mr Ahmed says he made a mistake. He made a partial and misguided defence in an email to other managers in News yesterday. He said he hadn't broken any editorial guidelines, but noted the payment would have appeared in his Declaration of Personal Interests. There's no record of any such payments to any current BBC News manager paid over £150k. Some 'personal interests' are noted (Mr Ahmed, for example, works unpaid for the Media Trust; his declaration doesn't mention his recent appointment at the Society of Editors); other managers indicate they do have personal interests, but they are kept secret under Data Protection legislation. No present manager declares other income, though Sarah Sands notes the gift of a Wimbledon ticket from English fizzmakers, Nyetimber.
Mr Ahmed assumed his role as Editorial Director in November 2018. Since then, he's appeared at book festivals in Wimbledon, Stroud. Hay, Wigtown, Chiswick, Stoke, Dartington and Hexham, promoting his book, The Life and Times of a Very British Man. He appears, listed as "Editorial Director" on the books of agent Mary Greenham.
BBC Editorial Director Kamal Ahmed has damaged his chances of leading the News division, and blown any chance of he may have had of the DG vacancy. He signed up to appear on a panel at a conference run by Aberdeen Standard Investments, at Old Billingsgate, on Thursday 6th February. The 40-minute session, chaired by former BBC business presenter Steph McGovern, started at 10.40 - Kamal could have led the morning meeting, and still got there in good time by taxi. The Mail on Sunday, which publicised Mr Ahmed's appearance, said he was paid £12k. Eight days earlier Mr Ahmed, in a designer t-shirt, had perched on a bar-stool as senior managers announced that they were looking for at least 450 post closures in News.
The fee is being returned. Mr Ahmed says he made a mistake. He made a partial and misguided defence in an email to other managers in News yesterday. He said he hadn't broken any editorial guidelines, but noted the payment would have appeared in his Declaration of Personal Interests. There's no record of any such payments to any current BBC News manager paid over £150k. Some 'personal interests' are noted (Mr Ahmed, for example, works unpaid for the Media Trust; his declaration doesn't mention his recent appointment at the Society of Editors); other managers indicate they do have personal interests, but they are kept secret under Data Protection legislation. No present manager declares other income, though Sarah Sands notes the gift of a Wimbledon ticket from English fizzmakers, Nyetimber.
Mr Ahmed assumed his role as Editorial Director in November 2018. Since then, he's appeared at book festivals in Wimbledon, Stroud. Hay, Wigtown, Chiswick, Stoke, Dartington and Hexham, promoting his book, The Life and Times of a Very British Man. He appears, listed as "Editorial Director" on the books of agent Mary Greenham.
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Spot the difference
BBC transport correspondent Tom Burridge in the dark. Day one - with HS2 logo as he stands in their construction hole in Birmingham; day two - covered-up, despite the news his 'scoop' is confirmed.
Space
If you're looking for cheap-ish tv studio space, the new owners of the ITV Southbank Centre are offering a short-tem lease until June 2021. There are three ground floor studios and two smaller ones on Floor 3.
Tightening ye belts
A proclamation: Consumerſ of newſ bulletinſ on Radio 1, 2, 5 and 5Live may notice ſubtle changeſ in the three monthſ ahead. The Keeperſ of the Newſgathering Flame have decide that outſide peak liſtening, the Chain-Mailed Knightſ of Reportage will not provide Readingſ of What Haſ Happened for the Delight of Listenerſ, and will be doing More Important Newſgathering, and perhaps Digital ſtuff.
Expect News Bulletins to take more stuff from abroad, or indeed, to use more Voices of People Actually ſpeaking.
Expect News Bulletins to take more stuff from abroad, or indeed, to use more Voices of People Actually ſpeaking.
Virginia Plain
The London chair of headhunters Odgers Berndston is Baroness Bottomley, now 71. As Virginia, she was the last National Heritage minister (before it was re-invented as Culture), and man-marked John Birt as Director General of the BBC. In 1995, she signed off Digital Terrestial TV, which was to give Birt his beloved News Channel, amongst other expansions. She also stood by as he moved in to subjugate the World Service.
Monday, February 10, 2020
Have a go
The BBC is sticking with Odgers and his chum Berndston as headhunters to find a new DG. They were involved in the process which delivered Sir David Clementi as chairman, most of his fellow non-executives, and most recently the job-share team of Aslett & Currie as HR Director.
There's a 12-page glossy candidate brief (with plenty of space for scribbling). Odgers would like to to apply online by March 11th; then, a selection board will decided who will proceed to an Odgers interview, before it gets serious. There's no named partner involved, but if you feel aggrieved by the way your application has been treated, you can email the UK CEO, one Kester Scrope, direct.
There's a 12-page glossy candidate brief (with plenty of space for scribbling). Odgers would like to to apply online by March 11th; then, a selection board will decided who will proceed to an Odgers interview, before it gets serious. There's no named partner involved, but if you feel aggrieved by the way your application has been treated, you can email the UK CEO, one Kester Scrope, direct.
Evan above
The Mail has picked up on Evan Davis' session at The Media Society, musing on the future of a smaller BBC.
'One of the reasons why I think the BBC is trapped in this debate is that if it escalates the argument about the future and if the BBC becomes the new, God forbid, culture war front, now that Brexit is done, I can tell you it will not end well for the BBC.'
'One of the reasons why I think the BBC is trapped in this debate is that if it escalates the argument about the future and if the BBC becomes the new, God forbid, culture war front, now that Brexit is done, I can tell you it will not end well for the BBC.'
DG 2020 - 4
At last a bit of fun in the DG 2020 Stakes - the excitable Adam Sherwin at the 'i' suggests that Elisabeth Murdoch would be an acceptable candidate for the vacancy, in the eyes of 10 Downing Street.
There's no suggestion that she's applied or applying; indeed Mr Sherwin reports that headhunters have not yet been appointed. Mr Sherwin takes further amusement in suggesting that Rebekah Brooks would be No 10's 'dream candidate'.
There's no suggestion that she's applied or applying; indeed Mr Sherwin reports that headhunters have not yet been appointed. Mr Sherwin takes further amusement in suggesting that Rebekah Brooks would be No 10's 'dream candidate'.
Sunday, February 9, 2020
Open book
How many staff support the BBC Chairman and Director General ? Does any of them know how to put stuff on the web ? Here's the most recent minutes from our ever-so transparent Auntie ...
BBC Board - September 2019
Audit & Risk Committee - June 2019
Editorial Standards - December 2018
England Committee - September 2018
Fair Trading Committee - April 2019
Nominations Committee - March 2019
Northern Ireland Committee - May 2019
Remuneration Committee - May 2019
Scotland Committee - October 2018
Wales Committee - October 2018
BBC Board - September 2019
Audit & Risk Committee - June 2019
Editorial Standards - December 2018
England Committee - September 2018
Fair Trading Committee - April 2019
Nominations Committee - March 2019
Northern Ireland Committee - May 2019
Remuneration Committee - May 2019
Scotland Committee - October 2018
Wales Committee - October 2018
Control freakery
Sarah Sands, outgoing editor of Today on Radio 4, tells Spectator readers that she was never after promotion at the BBC.
"To have no interest in any higher rung on the corporate ladder confers freedom, but federal powers tend inexorably to exercise control over member states. Over time I came to realise how much sovereignty means to me, and handed in my notice last week."
And muses on the speed her decision became public....
"I submitted my resignation early last Thursday, imagining it to be a private matter. Half an hour later, the Times correspondent Matthew Moore tweeted the news."
"To have no interest in any higher rung on the corporate ladder confers freedom, but federal powers tend inexorably to exercise control over member states. Over time I came to realise how much sovereignty means to me, and handed in my notice last week."
And muses on the speed her decision became public....
"I submitted my resignation early last Thursday, imagining it to be a private matter. Half an hour later, the Times correspondent Matthew Moore tweeted the news."
Business plan ?
Good heavens. This Twitter exchange looks like James Purnell of the BBC promising Fraser Nelson that he will podcasts made by The Spectator on BBC Sounds. Is that really letting little 'uns get access ?
Just sat next to a woman on the tube who was on her own, doubled up in laughter, listening to the BBC’s new Americast podcast. Quite an advert. Just how us independent podcast producers can cope with competition from the mighty BBC is another question tho https://t.co/WEz48kfkc7— Fraser Nelson (@FraserNelson) February 5, 2020
Any chance of you hosting some Spectator podcasts on BBC Sounds?— Fraser Nelson (@FraserNelson) February 5, 2020
I’d like fair competition. ITV, LBC, Ch4 don’t do many podcasts: they have to raise their own money. The taxman (and courts) raise the BBC’s money. Its early reticence over podcasts allowed a space for tiny publishers (like us) to develop our own channels. It’s different now.— Fraser Nelson (@FraserNelson) February 5, 2020
Aiming to do it this year.— James Purnell (@jimpurnell) February 5, 2020
45 minutes
There's a deal of troubled soul stuff in The Observer's interview with John Sweeney. But the analysis of how to knock off an election campaign vox pop rings true...
Before he left, like everyone else, Sweeney was doing vox pops about Brexit. He got it down to a fine art. “I would get off the train, head straight to the main square, find the guy on a mobility scooter with a Waffen SS sticker and get his views on taking back control. Then head over to Waitrose and find some professor on their day off to put the Remain argument. Then, on the way back to the station, a mother with her kids saying: ‘I just want them to get on with it.’ Forty-five minutes tops. I could do it. But it wasn’t anything to do with journalism.”
Before he left, like everyone else, Sweeney was doing vox pops about Brexit. He got it down to a fine art. “I would get off the train, head straight to the main square, find the guy on a mobility scooter with a Waffen SS sticker and get his views on taking back control. Then head over to Waitrose and find some professor on their day off to put the Remain argument. Then, on the way back to the station, a mother with her kids saying: ‘I just want them to get on with it.’ Forty-five minutes tops. I could do it. But it wasn’t anything to do with journalism.”
Saturday, February 8, 2020
Spin-off ?
I'm not sure how the finances work, but maybe BBC Sounds is trying to recoup some of its marketing budget with a run of live shows from the Fortunately-duo of Jane Garvey and Fi Glover.
They've recorded a couple of 'live' editions already - one in a pub in Cardiff, back in December 2018, and one at the Hay Festival, in May last year. I think the events were ticketed but free.
Now, with Vane Productions (MD Alex Fane, age 25), they're embarking on a tour of much bigger venues - including The Lowry in Salford, The Usher Hall in Edinburgh and The Royal Festival Hall in London. Top price tickets are £35. There will at each show be a so-far unnamed guest, but it's not clear if these conversations are for broadcast - there's little BBC branding on the website.
They've recorded a couple of 'live' editions already - one in a pub in Cardiff, back in December 2018, and one at the Hay Festival, in May last year. I think the events were ticketed but free.
Now, with Vane Productions (MD Alex Fane, age 25), they're embarking on a tour of much bigger venues - including The Lowry in Salford, The Usher Hall in Edinburgh and The Royal Festival Hall in London. Top price tickets are £35. There will at each show be a so-far unnamed guest, but it's not clear if these conversations are for broadcast - there's little BBC branding on the website.
Where's the world going....?
There are off-stage noises that we might hear more clearly next week about Foreign Office funding of the BBC World Service. The Conservatives' wonderfully ambivalent attitude to this undoubted UK plc asset led to an end in direct funding (at £254m a year) in 2014, winning a promise from a supine BBC that a minimum of £254m p.a. would be provided henceforward from licence-fee payers.
Then, in 2015, the FCO decided to invest in the World Service again, promising £291m spread over four years, for specified new services. That funding stream was last year extended to September 2020 (probably costing a further £42m), but, if contracts are to be maintained, a decision beyond that is now urgent.
Meanwhile, licence-fee payers contributed £278m last year to World Service. That's just over £1 a week from each licence-fee household.
Then, in 2015, the FCO decided to invest in the World Service again, promising £291m spread over four years, for specified new services. That funding stream was last year extended to September 2020 (probably costing a further £42m), but, if contracts are to be maintained, a decision beyond that is now urgent.
Meanwhile, licence-fee payers contributed £278m last year to World Service. That's just over £1 a week from each licence-fee household.
Wolf's clothing
The Telegraph reports that "Public First", based at 11 Tufton Street, has been hired by the DCMS to report on attitudes to various forms of funding models for public service broadcasting. You thought they were only considering de-criminalising non-payment....
I'm sure they'll do a bang-up job. One of the firm's founders, Rachel Wolf, co-wrote the 2019 Conservative manifesto, so can clearly turn a credible phrase, which may or may not be used in framing Public First's questions. I'm sure the DCMS will be transparent in its reporting.
Rachel worked with Dominic Cummings at Education when she was part of the New Schools Network. Here's her style on Newsnight...
I'm sure they'll do a bang-up job. One of the firm's founders, Rachel Wolf, co-wrote the 2019 Conservative manifesto, so can clearly turn a credible phrase, which may or may not be used in framing Public First's questions. I'm sure the DCMS will be transparent in its reporting.
Rachel worked with Dominic Cummings at Education when she was part of the New Schools Network. Here's her style on Newsnight...
“This is going to be a radical government for three reasons. First is they have a majority… second is… that they’ve had a tonne of new voters… and third… is by changing how Whitehall delivers.”— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) December 16, 2019
- @racheljanetwolf co-writer of the Conservative manifesto#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/TG3AapvGeu
Friday, February 7, 2020
Dancing attendance
"Sting has phoned up Alan Yentob personally and called him an actual prick". That, of course, is a fictional line from the mockumentary W1A.The real Al has not given up on his adoration of all things Sting; he and camera crew were at last night's preview of "Message In A Bottle", at the Phoenix Theatre in London.
It's choreographed by Kate Prince, building on 28 songs by the Geordie answer to Ivor Novello.
It's choreographed by Kate Prince, building on 28 songs by the Geordie answer to Ivor Novello.
Victorian times
Victoria Newton, the new editor-in-chief of The Sun, was born in Anfield in 1972, but went to Rushcliffe School in Nottingham (daddy Don was deputy head; he now lectures in maths at teacher training college in Birmingham) and then Newnham College Cambridge. She was a member of the Lightweights (3rd) Crew in the University Women's Boat Club in 1994, and worked on the university newspaper.
She started in hackery as a graduate trainee with the Express, before moving on to the Sunday People’s showbiz desk. She first joined The Sun in 1998, when she was joint editor of Bizarre with future Sun editor Dominic Mohan for a year before becoming Los Angeles correspondent for two years.
In 2002, she joined the Daily Mail as showbiz editor, but was back with The Sun a year later, editing Bizarre til 2007. Those years were critically chronicled by a blog entitled Vicky Watch, which claimed many 'exclusives' were re-branded showbiz puffs. Victoria survived and went on to join the News of the World in October 2009 as deputy editor; when it closed, she moved to become Saturday editor of The Sun, and then editor of The Sun on Sunday.
Spookily, she doesn't answer questions about phone-hacking.
How will she stand on the BBC licence fee ? She claims never to have missed an edition of Top of The Pops, and grew up with Neighbours and the Radio 1 Breakfast Show.
Is she a good judge of character ? In 2005 she described her proudest moment in journalism as becoming editor of The Sun's showbiz column, Bizarre. "You only have to look at some of the brilliantly talented journalists who have edited Bizarre - Piers Morgan, Andy Coulson and Dominic Mohan in particular."
Vicky's main innovation at Bizarre was introducing her own annual awards, decided by her: "“The biggest shagger of the year during my time on Bizarre was Blue’s Lee Ryan. He won it two years consecutively and was extremely proud of his achievement. I once gave Charlotte Church the Caner of the Year award for all her legendary drinking behaviour. She always used to say in interviews it was the only award she had ever won and that she got bollocked by her granny for winning it.”
Victoria, below, hanging out with Claudia Winkleman's husband, Chris Thykier...
She started in hackery as a graduate trainee with the Express, before moving on to the Sunday People’s showbiz desk. She first joined The Sun in 1998, when she was joint editor of Bizarre with future Sun editor Dominic Mohan for a year before becoming Los Angeles correspondent for two years.
In 2002, she joined the Daily Mail as showbiz editor, but was back with The Sun a year later, editing Bizarre til 2007. Those years were critically chronicled by a blog entitled Vicky Watch, which claimed many 'exclusives' were re-branded showbiz puffs. Victoria survived and went on to join the News of the World in October 2009 as deputy editor; when it closed, she moved to become Saturday editor of The Sun, and then editor of The Sun on Sunday.
Spookily, she doesn't answer questions about phone-hacking.
How will she stand on the BBC licence fee ? She claims never to have missed an edition of Top of The Pops, and grew up with Neighbours and the Radio 1 Breakfast Show.
Is she a good judge of character ? In 2005 she described her proudest moment in journalism as becoming editor of The Sun's showbiz column, Bizarre. "You only have to look at some of the brilliantly talented journalists who have edited Bizarre - Piers Morgan, Andy Coulson and Dominic Mohan in particular."
Vicky's main innovation at Bizarre was introducing her own annual awards, decided by her: "“The biggest shagger of the year during my time on Bizarre was Blue’s Lee Ryan. He won it two years consecutively and was extremely proud of his achievement. I once gave Charlotte Church the Caner of the Year award for all her legendary drinking behaviour. She always used to say in interviews it was the only award she had ever won and that she got bollocked by her granny for winning it.”
Victoria, below, hanging out with Claudia Winkleman's husband, Chris Thykier...
Hardest working man in showbiz
I hope they've run Dotun Adebayo's new contract through HR at the BBC.
Dotun (59, Stationer's Company Comprehensive, BA Literature Stockholm University, BA Philosophy Essex University) has signed up for Monday to Friday, 1am to 5am on Radio Five Live, and Sunday evenings 8-10pm on Radio London. Allowing a Jeremy-Vine-style hour and a half prep for each show, that's 31 hours per week, plus some entertaining switches between day and night. Give it a couple of months and they'll be looking for Friday stand-ins.
Dotun (59, Stationer's Company Comprehensive, BA Literature Stockholm University, BA Philosophy Essex University) has signed up for Monday to Friday, 1am to 5am on Radio Five Live, and Sunday evenings 8-10pm on Radio London. Allowing a Jeremy-Vine-style hour and a half prep for each show, that's 31 hours per week, plus some entertaining switches between day and night. Give it a couple of months and they'll be looking for Friday stand-ins.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Talking to the radio
From RAJAR: 94% of smart speaker owners use the boxes to listen to radio/music/podcasts/audio books. 48% use the blessed things to check the weather/set alarms/buy things/control home appliances.
Party on
At this difficult time for the BBC, The Embodying Spirit of The Licence Fee seems to be missing from our screens.
I was worried Alan Yentob might have missed the Charles Finch & Chanel Pre-BAFTA Party, held this year at 5 Hertford Street, known to Andrew Neil's fans as Lou Lou's. No, he made it.
It's possible someone has worked out that Al might not be best placed to make the case for Auntie, in the same way that Boris Cummings has worked out that Jacob Rees-Mogg is not perhaps the best symbol of one-nation Toryism. And, of course, Alan still has unresolved financial issues, as we await his court battle with the Insolvency Service over the running of Kid's Company.
I was worried Alan Yentob might have missed the Charles Finch & Chanel Pre-BAFTA Party, held this year at 5 Hertford Street, known to Andrew Neil's fans as Lou Lou's. No, he made it.
It's possible someone has worked out that Al might not be best placed to make the case for Auntie, in the same way that Boris Cummings has worked out that Jacob Rees-Mogg is not perhaps the best symbol of one-nation Toryism. And, of course, Alan still has unresolved financial issues, as we await his court battle with the Insolvency Service over the running of Kid's Company.
Also available
BBC Local Radio, still awaiting re-invention, is down 300k listeners year on year, to 7.5m. BBC Radio Scotland is up 18,800 to 767,000. Radio Wales has added 11,000, to 327,000. Radio Cymru has dropped 15,000, to 109,000. Radio Ulster has lost 8,000, to 516,000.
DG 2020 - 3
Interesting to see Group Managing Director Bob Shennan put forward to speak for the BBC on the Government's move to decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee. Is he a DG contender (probably) or part of an unofficial interregnum ?
Here's a link to his conversation with Jon Snow on Channel 4 News.
Here's a link to his conversation with Jon Snow on Channel 4 News.
Senior service
The frenzied high tides of the 2019 General Election have washed over the beach of radio listening, and left some interesting new ripples in the sand. We will have to wait to see whether or not there has been permanent coastal erosion.
The breakfast plain-speaking of Nick Ferrari (LBC) and Julia Hartley-Brewer (TalkRADIO) pricked up ears; their respective stations were up 23.3% and 43.4% year-on-year in weekly reach for the last quarter of 2019. Should we have see them as bellwethers for the election result ?
Radio 4 was up 4.7%, and Today, sans Humphrys, up 5%. Radio 5 Live was up 9%, to a much healthier 5.4m, with Breakfast up 15%. TalkSPORT marked time.
Was there a digital exasperation benefit to Radio 3 and Radio 4Xtra, either side of Radio 4 ? Both were up, perhaps through listeners' impatience with the unproductive arguments on their mothership.
Over at Controller-less Radio 1, weekly reach is down 6.2%, Greg James down 6%, and the station has lost 3m listeners since its 2011 peak. Radio 2 will take comfort from Zoe Ball adding back 335,000 listeners lost in the previous quarter.
The breakfast plain-speaking of Nick Ferrari (LBC) and Julia Hartley-Brewer (TalkRADIO) pricked up ears; their respective stations were up 23.3% and 43.4% year-on-year in weekly reach for the last quarter of 2019. Should we have see them as bellwethers for the election result ?
Radio 4 was up 4.7%, and Today, sans Humphrys, up 5%. Radio 5 Live was up 9%, to a much healthier 5.4m, with Breakfast up 15%. TalkSPORT marked time.
Was there a digital exasperation benefit to Radio 3 and Radio 4Xtra, either side of Radio 4 ? Both were up, perhaps through listeners' impatience with the unproductive arguments on their mothership.
Over at Controller-less Radio 1, weekly reach is down 6.2%, Greg James down 6%, and the station has lost 3m listeners since its 2011 peak. Radio 2 will take comfort from Zoe Ball adding back 335,000 listeners lost in the previous quarter.
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Off
In the old days, if you were off to a media competitor (from the BBC) you cleared your desk within a week. Stig Abell, driving force behind Times Radio, is still, it seems presenting regularly on Front Row on Radio 4 (cf last Wednesday). Tim Levell, the station's new editor, seems still to be at the helm of the Emma Barnett Show on Radio 5 Live.
Hop it !
Hop it !
Leaping to conclusions
Now we have Baroness Morgan's plan for her consultation about de-criminalising non-payment of a tv licence fee. It is a consultation document loaded with presumptions, and light on fact. The consultation is open for eight weeks (last time, eleven), and the Government's response is expected 'in the summer', apparently with a view to making changes from April 2022.
Here's one fact that is included: In 2018, five people were imprisoned for default of payment of the fine, with an average sentence length of 19 days; it is possible that these five cases would have involved other criminal offences that were dealt with at the same time. It is also not unusual for people receiving custodial sentences for unrelated offences to request that outstanding and defaulted fines and other matters are dealt with together.
Here's a couple more: In 2018, there were 129,446 prosecutions for TV licence evasion, resulting in
121,203 convictions. The vast majority of TV licence evasion cases are dealt with under a very efficient procedure in the Magistrates’ Court – the Single Justice Procedure – taking an average of two minutes each to complete. It is estimated that the majority of Single Justice Procedure cases are listed and completed at the Magistrates’ Court on the same day.
While significant savings in criminal court resources are therefore not anticipated from moving from a criminal justice to a civil justice enforcement scheme, as set out above, the Government nonetheless believes the civil justice system is a more appropriate forum for these cases given the nature of the offence.
Introducing an alternative enforcement scheme will have a direct impact on the justice system, the BBC and TV Licensing, and on government revenue. In addition to likely significant set-up costs, the ongoing cost of enforcement could also be higher, especially given the current procedure for handling TV licence evasion prosecutions is extremely efficient and the reduction in cost to the Magistrates’
Courts will be very small. These changes will have a big impact on the BBC which estimates that moving to a civil enforcement scheme could cost £45 million more in collection cost
Under a civil enforcement scheme, individuals may be required overall to pay more
when facing enforcement action for TV licence evasion than in the current enforcement scheme. Depending on the model chosen, individuals may be liable for court fees for issuing a court claim and enforcing the court order, in addition to other enforcement costs such as fees for private enforcement agents if used. Furthermore the Perry Review said that, approximately to maintain current evasion rates through use of a civil monetary penalty, the BBC would need to set the financial penalty for evasion at a level of £500; significantly higher than the current average fine given for
the offence.
Depending on the type of civil enforcement scheme used, the unpaid debt may be entered onto the Register of Fines, Orders and Judgements, which could have an impact on an individual's ability to obtain credit. It is also likely to lead to the use of enforcement agents (bailiffs) to enforce the debt, which may cause additional anxiety for individuals who may already be vulnerable.
Here's one fact that is included: In 2018, five people were imprisoned for default of payment of the fine, with an average sentence length of 19 days; it is possible that these five cases would have involved other criminal offences that were dealt with at the same time. It is also not unusual for people receiving custodial sentences for unrelated offences to request that outstanding and defaulted fines and other matters are dealt with together.
Here's a couple more: In 2018, there were 129,446 prosecutions for TV licence evasion, resulting in
121,203 convictions. The vast majority of TV licence evasion cases are dealt with under a very efficient procedure in the Magistrates’ Court – the Single Justice Procedure – taking an average of two minutes each to complete. It is estimated that the majority of Single Justice Procedure cases are listed and completed at the Magistrates’ Court on the same day.
While significant savings in criminal court resources are therefore not anticipated from moving from a criminal justice to a civil justice enforcement scheme, as set out above, the Government nonetheless believes the civil justice system is a more appropriate forum for these cases given the nature of the offence.
Introducing an alternative enforcement scheme will have a direct impact on the justice system, the BBC and TV Licensing, and on government revenue. In addition to likely significant set-up costs, the ongoing cost of enforcement could also be higher, especially given the current procedure for handling TV licence evasion prosecutions is extremely efficient and the reduction in cost to the Magistrates’
Courts will be very small. These changes will have a big impact on the BBC which estimates that moving to a civil enforcement scheme could cost £45 million more in collection cost
Under a civil enforcement scheme, individuals may be required overall to pay more
when facing enforcement action for TV licence evasion than in the current enforcement scheme. Depending on the model chosen, individuals may be liable for court fees for issuing a court claim and enforcing the court order, in addition to other enforcement costs such as fees for private enforcement agents if used. Furthermore the Perry Review said that, approximately to maintain current evasion rates through use of a civil monetary penalty, the BBC would need to set the financial penalty for evasion at a level of £500; significantly higher than the current average fine given for
the offence.
Depending on the type of civil enforcement scheme used, the unpaid debt may be entered onto the Register of Fines, Orders and Judgements, which could have an impact on an individual's ability to obtain credit. It is also likely to lead to the use of enforcement agents (bailiffs) to enforce the debt, which may cause additional anxiety for individuals who may already be vulnerable.
Klondyke
BBC Radio & Education is still betting the bank on the podcast gold rush. New Controller Jonathan 'Little Tramp' Wall has announced 20 new-ish offerings on the way. We're still not being told the proportion of BBC Sounds 3 million users that are turning to these podcasts.
One returning podcast features Gemma Collins, pondering some tough questions: Do houses have feelings? Should we make candles that smell like vaginas? And really though, what is time?
One returning podcast features Gemma Collins, pondering some tough questions: Do houses have feelings? Should we make candles that smell like vaginas? And really though, what is time?
More charts
Ofcom's latest review of young people's media consumption was widely perceived to be bad news for our network broadcasters. But, in fact, the consumption of BBC News, by various means, turns out to be still quite impressive, as demonstrated by this chart.
And the message that programmes don't have to be just aimed at under-15s to get their attention, with this chart. It's topped, by a long way, by the second show in the 2019 series of Britain's Got Talent, followed by the New Year's Day showing of a US animation film from 2015.
And the message that programmes don't have to be just aimed at under-15s to get their attention, with this chart. It's topped, by a long way, by the second show in the 2019 series of Britain's Got Talent, followed by the New Year's Day showing of a US animation film from 2015.
The Final Problem
Protecting who from what ?
Baroness Morgan has set the tone for the promised review of the tv licence fee by talking about 'protecting the vulnerable'. Her document setting out the terms of the consultation will be a good read; all we know so far is that the consultation will take eight weeks.
The last review, under David Perry QC, was announced in September 2014, and the public consultation lasted eleven weeks, from 12th February. We're told this time it'll take eight weeks.
In 2014, the annual number of fines for non-payment was 152,649; evasion was deemed to be 'stable' at c5.5%, and prison-sentences-for-continued non-payment stood at 39 over 12 months. In 2018, evasion was running at 6.6%. 121,000 were fined for non-payment. Between 2015 and 2018, an estimated 50 people have spent time in jail for non-payment - but the tv licence may have been only one element of their misdemeanour.
So it's entertaining to see this new review framed as aiming to 'protect the vulnerable'.
The last review, under David Perry QC, was announced in September 2014, and the public consultation lasted eleven weeks, from 12th February. We're told this time it'll take eight weeks.
In 2014, the annual number of fines for non-payment was 152,649; evasion was deemed to be 'stable' at c5.5%, and prison-sentences-for-continued non-payment stood at 39 over 12 months. In 2018, evasion was running at 6.6%. 121,000 were fined for non-payment. Between 2015 and 2018, an estimated 50 people have spent time in jail for non-payment - but the tv licence may have been only one element of their misdemeanour.
So it's entertaining to see this new review framed as aiming to 'protect the vulnerable'.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Looking ahead
I suspect I have readers who are deep thinkers about where BBC News is heading. May I commend a blogpost by David Caswell, who is Executive Product Manager, BBC Newslabs ? It's at Dominic Cummings-level of difficulty, but somewhere in there are important questions - sadly, without answers.
Problem counting the numbers
Thanks heavens the BBC was there in numbers for the Iowa caucuses - how on earth otherwise would they have filled the overnight air-time ?
On site we have Emily Maitlis, David Grossman, Jon Sopel, Katty Kay, Christian Fraser, Nick Bryant, Gary O'Donoghue, Chris Buckler, Anthony Zurcher, Samantha Granville, Marianna Brady, Zhaoyin Feng, Haley Thomas, Paul Danahar, Angelica Maria Casas, Dan McAdam, and a bloke from the BBC Persian Service. There's a few US new networks that might raise eyebrows at that size of on-the-ground team.
Your sleepless blogger particularly enjoyed the 15 minutes from 0400 - a marathon example of speakak, chewing over only one fact - the result was delayed.
Either the impending financial crisis only hits News on March 31st, or BBC World has taken a hefty slice of advertising we don't see from the $60m spend in Iowa by Democratic Party leadership contenders.
On site we have Emily Maitlis, David Grossman, Jon Sopel, Katty Kay, Christian Fraser, Nick Bryant, Gary O'Donoghue, Chris Buckler, Anthony Zurcher, Samantha Granville, Marianna Brady, Zhaoyin Feng, Haley Thomas, Paul Danahar, Angelica Maria Casas, Dan McAdam, and a bloke from the BBC Persian Service. There's a few US new networks that might raise eyebrows at that size of on-the-ground team.
Your sleepless blogger particularly enjoyed the 15 minutes from 0400 - a marathon example of speakak, chewing over only one fact - the result was delayed.
Either the impending financial crisis only hits News on March 31st, or BBC World has taken a hefty slice of advertising we don't see from the $60m spend in Iowa by Democratic Party leadership contenders.
Monday, February 3, 2020
Taxing
The tv licence fee is going up by £3 a year. The new rate, £157.50 starts in April. The increase has been calculated by Government using the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation, measured as the average rate of CPI over the last 12 months to September 2019, which works out at 2.00%.
In Germany, an annual tv licence is 210 euros - currently £178.63. In France, a tv licence for 2020 costs 138 euros - £117.37. Channels can show ads up to 8pm. In Denmark, the tv licence, at 339 euros a year, has just been abolished. DR is funded from general taxation, but its income has been cut by 20%. In Sweden the tv licence of 2,400 krona (around £190) was abolished in 2018, replaced by a 1% rise in personal income tax, capped at 1,300 krona (around £103).
In Germany, an annual tv licence is 210 euros - currently £178.63. In France, a tv licence for 2020 costs 138 euros - £117.37. Channels can show ads up to 8pm. In Denmark, the tv licence, at 339 euros a year, has just been abolished. DR is funded from general taxation, but its income has been cut by 20%. In Sweden the tv licence of 2,400 krona (around £190) was abolished in 2018, replaced by a 1% rise in personal income tax, capped at 1,300 krona (around £103).
Big job
Two weeks since the bombshell of Lord Hall's resignation, and there's no sign of a job advert or recruitment company to find his replacement as BBC Director-General.
Of course, Tone got the gig after a simple chat with the then Chairman Lord Patten (Lardy Lord to Tony's Lordy Lord). The previous incumbent was George Entwistle, hired after a three-month hunt, at £189,000, conducted by Dom Loehnis of Eghon Zender. Part of that money was spent interviewing BBC big-wigs (including Entwistle) to draw up a role specification.
It might need alteration if they're to use it again. "Commercial acumen" and "Cross-platform experience" were both 'nice to have', rather than 'must have'.
Of course, Tone got the gig after a simple chat with the then Chairman Lord Patten (Lardy Lord to Tony's Lordy Lord). The previous incumbent was George Entwistle, hired after a three-month hunt, at £189,000, conducted by Dom Loehnis of Eghon Zender. Part of that money was spent interviewing BBC big-wigs (including Entwistle) to draw up a role specification.
It might need alteration if they're to use it again. "Commercial acumen" and "Cross-platform experience" were both 'nice to have', rather than 'must have'.
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