Buying before selling ?

Two BBC Board meetings were held in June - the first to acclaim joyously their own wisdom in appointing Tim Davie, carried shoulder high around the room, virtually, of course. 

The second brought a new financial problem. Unhelpfully, the Culture Secretary has decided to give Grade II listing to the BBC's premises at Maida Vale, on the recommendation of Historic England. The venue was built in 1909 as the home of the Maida Vale Roller Skating Palace and Club, but the BBC took over the building in the 1930s.

In June 2018, the BBC announced it would be leaving Maida Vale for new purpose-built premises for the BBC Symphony Orchestra, as part of the East Bank development in Stratford. Clearly the listing means the Maida Vale site can't be bulldozed for the flats that any developer would love in that area - and the BBC won't get as much cash as it expected for the site/building. 

"The Board noted that an assessment of the financial implications of the listing of Maida Vale on the BBC’s finances, including the impact on the East Bank programme, would also return to the Board."

There were also special presentations on EastEnders and Britbox.