Minute by minute

Two new sets of minutes from the BBC Board have been released - one from July, the last under DG Lord Hall, and one from September, with Tim Davie in place, both held by video conference. 

In July, they note: The Board noted an update on the status of the E20 Programme in light of the challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.  This is code for further delay and cost in constructing the new Eastenders set at Elstree. 

Directors approved the additional content investment as set out in the paper, in order to enhance the autumn and winter audience offer in line with the content strategy agreed by the Board at its March meeting.  This looks like sanction to buy in more ready-made programmes to fill Covid-created gaps in the pipeline.

In September, there was better financial news, against gloomy predictions made earlier in the year: There was now greater clarity on costs to the end of the year and licence fee income projections were positive, against the budget set out at the start of Covid-19.

Much of the rest is filled out with the usual Director-trumpet-blowing. Tim Davie maybe about to shorten that:  In the coming months, the executive reporting to the Board would be reshaped to focus reporting on the priorities and on audience value metrics.