The Newsroom

BBC News Cutbacks

(October 2007)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
SP
Spencer
Moz posted:
Call me stupid, but can anyone explain why, out of all the output that the BBC produces and commissions, it is news and factual that is bearing the brunt of these cuts?

Surely these are the two most highly thought of departments. Admittedly the programmes they make cost more, but they are critical to the future of the corporation in my opinion.

Is it the fact that these two departments are lazy and inefficient because of the respect they have, and because of the protection that this respect has afforded them in the past?

If the cuts are brought about by sensible changes such as one reporter/producer and one cameraman/soundman for each OB rather than three reporters, two producers, three cameramen and two soundmen for each OB as they have done, then that's fine. However if the cuts force the closing of foreign bureaux then that's not fine.


When I see programmes in the schedule such as 'Help Me Anthea, I'm Infested!' - a programme for people too stupid to phone Rentokil, I feel real sadness for those about to lose their jobs, when their work has contributed to BBC News being one of the most respected organisations of its kind in the world.
BR
Brekkie
Well, news of course is due to the duplication you mention - but factual I understand less - I guess it's more to do with the expense of making one off documentaries rather than the landmark factual series.


It's the move to Salford which doesn't make sense to me - fine in theory and great for the North West, but not necessarily the best use of the licence fee in the short term at least, especially at a time when the BBC is concentrating on the digital switchover too.
MO
Moz
Brekkie Boy posted:
It's the move to Salford which doesn't make sense to me.

Surely it's cheaper building new facilities in Salford and selling off TVC than upgrading the existing facilities. I'd have thought the Salford move is saving money, not costing. Yes there's a short term expenditure, but long-term it's cost reducing?
BR
Brekkie
Moz posted:
Brekkie Boy posted:
It's the move to Salford which doesn't make sense to me.

Surely it's cheaper building new facilities in Salford and selling off TVC than upgrading the existing facilities. I'd have thought the Salford move is saving money, not costing. Yes there's a short term expenditure, but long-term it's cost reducing?



But as I said, it doesn't make sense to do it when there are more pressing short term expenditures too - i.e. the switch to digital and introduction of HD and on-demand services.

IMO it's something that should have been deferred until the next licence period - and it's especially stupid to consider relocating BBC Sport before the 2012 Olympics.
GI
ginnyfan
Will they fire any of their presenters from News 24 and BBC World?
CH
chris
ginnyfan posted:
Will they fire any of their presenters from News 24 and BBC World?


Fire? Laughing Not if they haven't done anything wrong...
NG
noggin Founding member
Moz posted:
Brekkie Boy posted:
It's the move to Salford which doesn't make sense to me.

Surely it's cheaper building new facilities in Salford and selling off TVC than upgrading the existing facilities. I'd have thought the Salford move is saving money, not costing. Yes there's a short term expenditure, but long-term it's cost reducing?


Think you are missing the point.

The BBC are selling BBC Resources to make some cash (one off sale) - that is the studios, outside broadcasts and post production operations. (They are closing costumes and wigs)

The BBC is also selling off the Television Centre site (more cash from a one off sale) - where much of BBC Studios (they are also at Elstree) and BBC Post Production is based (They also have operations at White City, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester I believe)

The BBC is not planning on building any large studios in Manchester - they will rent them in from a 3rd party facilities providers - so they won't have to spend any money building new major studios...

(AIUI they will have some in-house production facilities - suitable for small scale non-studio based shows)
PE
peterrocket Founding member
Here' s more or less confirmation from Media Guardian about what's happening...

Approx 490 post closures to go in News with a total of around 350-370 redundancies.

The remainder will be re-deployed. 100's more in the English Regions too.

Still, no word on how Wales or NI are affected if it's said Scotland will also receive cuts.

I'm sure the unions won't be amused, particularly as staff have effectively found out what's happening through the media before it's even been officially announced tomorrow!
DA
Davidjb Founding member
Would this still be happening if Greg Dyke was running the show? I doubt it! Just goes to show what can happen when you put the wrong people incharge of a great British Institution.
NG
noggin Founding member
Davidjb posted:
Would this still be happening if Greg Dyke was running the show? I doubt it! Just goes to show what can happen when you put the wrong people incharge of a great British Institution.


Yep - though Greg lived through a BBC with a very healthy licence-fee settlement, and arguably the BBC grew too big too quickly under his tenure.

On the other hand it would have been interesting to have seen how he handled the licence-fee negotiation - and hypothetically how he handled the less-than-great settlement the BBC now has.
AS
Asa Admin
A report and debate on Newsnight just now about the cuts including a live discussion with Stuart Murphy and Jeff Randall (Daily Telegraph). Jeff giving some interesting stats to stoke the flame of the proposed Newsnight cuts and also the cut the Today programme is going to get.

Trying hard but unable to help slipping into being personal, he did the "ask 1000 on the street whether they wanted the Today programme or BBC Three" argument to which Murphy, in his fairness, did a very direct and reasoned argument, mainly around the fact that a 50 year old not liking BBC Three was really neither here nor there.

12 million supposedly tune into BBC Three each week.
SE
Square Eyes Founding member
Apparently Jonathon Ross's contract would pay the salary of 600 journalists. The BBC need to think carefully at their priorities.

Leave the big money contract to the commercial sector, and foster fresh new but affordable on screen talent.

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