Public Banned from the BBC

This is from bbc.co.uk/news

The BBC has appealed to staff to make up the numbers in studio audiences after it found it was breaking the law by hosting shows at Television Centre.
E-mails have been sent to staff asking them to form the studio audiences for shows such as Top of the Pops.

The corporation is in discussion with Hammersmith and Fulham Council over whether it breached licensing laws.

The situation emerged after a Red Hot Chilli Peppers show held outside the west London studios last month.

Negotiation

The 2003 Licensing Act, which came into force last year, requires some public entertainment to be licensed.

At the time of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers concert, the BBC said it had originally been advised that it did not require a licence.

"We are in the process of obtaining this," said a BBC statement.

The statement said most programme production at the complex in Shepherd's Bush, which opened for business in 1960, would continue as usual.

"The majority of BBC programmes will be entirely unaffected but we may need to make some changes to a few studio shows involving audiences," it added.

Members of the public due to attend shows at Television Centre in May are advised to call the corporation's audience helpline on 08700 100 222.

BBC staff have been invited to fill the audience for Top of the Pops on Thursday evening. The recording will feature performances by The Ordinary Boys, Katie Melua and The Beautiful South.


This seams like a major problem for the BBC. Unless they have suddenly started Child Labour at the BBC, programmes such as The Mighty Truck of Stuff will have a problem on Saturday morning. This does seem like the bbc have been a little short sighted, i am suprised no one has picked up on this before. I bet indies that use Television Centre for recording shows with audiences, will not be happy, i wonder if they will have to componsate the indies. I bet Paul O'Grady, will not be happy on Monday, as he largely depends on audience participation.

I think this refers to performances outside television centre, which is what they got into trouble for - not the actual studios!


Talking of studio audiences - is there a reason why TV companies don't use them as a money making opportunity? Generally tickets are free - is this just to get people in or is it due to some kind of regulation?

The only programme I can think of where the audience pay to watch is The Games, where the money goes to charity.

It affects all recordings at Television Centre that involve music components.. TOTP, Later with Jools..., etc

I believe it is "performance" not just musical elements. Dead Ringers has also had to recruit a staff audience as a result for the recording tomorrow.

It is presumably to do with licensing of venues for public performance. Interview based shows are not deemed performances so aren't under the same legislation. (Hence a public audience was allowed for the interviews on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross - but not for the music recording)

The Mighty Truck of Stuff is in fact live from Riverside Studios in Hammersmith.

Ludicrous legislation now turned farcical.

The BBC have a charter to broadcast entertainment that should be enough on their own premises.

Theres something on the Newsnight website about the staff being asked to nip over to the TOTP studio to make up the numbers

I wonder if it will get refered to during the show, because the BBC News strike got a reference ISTR.

Can't wait for Monday @ 9 !

They appear to be fairly strict about who's allowed in - BBC Worldwide aren't, nor are Siemens or Red Bee staff. I'm not sure about Resources, but since some of their staff are being used to run the studios, I think they're allowed in.

I noticed that Top Gear's on the list too for this Wednesday.

That's bizarre as Top Gear is filmed in a hanger in Surrey!

Yep - presumably the BBC had been going by the same advice and hadn't applied for an entertainment license for the shed either.

Dear oh dear oh dear