As Lord Hall pledges a “BBC for the internet age”, is this even possible under the licence fee model? September 7, 2015 David Hickman, senior lecturer in film & television production at the University of York, says Yes The only alternative to the licence fee proposed by BBC critics is subscription. Little is said about how, say, radio would be paid for. But practical issues aside, the BBC is a public institution, so public attitudes matter – [...]
BBC charter review: Why Auntie needs local media September 7, 2015 The upcoming charter review provides the ideal opportunity to extend the BBC’s long-established and highly successful outsourcing model to local news gathering. At a time when more power is being devolved to the regions, it is essential that there is a long-term commitment to media coverage of institutions – courts, health trusts, education authorities, [...]
Lord Tony Hall reveals plans for BBC’s “open platform” future: Local news partnerships, North Korea broadcasts, and children’s iPlayer September 7, 2015 Tony Hall, the director general of the BBC, has promised the public broadcaster will be "an open platform for British creativity" in a speech outlining plans for its future ahead of next year's royal charter renewal. Lord Hall said the proposals would "lead to a more creative and distinctive BBC" but warned that it would [...]
John Whittingdale’s BBC velvet glove at Edinburgh TV Festival masks a hand of steel August 26, 2015 John Whittingdale struck a conciliatory tone on the BBC at the Edinburgh TV Festival, saying "It was never our intention to create the impression that the BBC was under attack". The culture secretary explained that much would remain unchanged at the BBC of the future. The licence fee was still the only option because the [...]
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May to make Top Gear-style show for Amazon July 30, 2015 Former Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have found a new home at Amazon, after being ditched by the BBC earlier this year. Read more: Chris Evans picked to replace Jeremy Clarkson as Top Gear presenter The trio will create a Top Gear-style motoring show for Amazon's Prime Video service, with long-time [...]
First homes inside former BBC Television Centre go on sale next month – starting at £500,000 July 27, 2015 Homebuyers will be soon able to own a slice of television history, with the first 450 homes inside the former BBC Television centre set to go up for sale next month. The scenery block at the former BBC Television centre in London’s White City is eerily quiet. For over 50 years the cavernous space used [...]
BBC appoints Laura Kuenssberg as political editor amid shake up July 22, 2015 The BBC yesterday announced the appointment of Laura Kuenssberg as political editor, taking over from Nick Robinson. Kuenssberg, who has been chief correspondent and a presenter on Newsnight since February 2014, previously served as business editor at ITV News between 2011 and 2014. She said yesterday: “I’m completely delighted and I recognise the responsibility on [...]
BBC sees red in Bill Turnbull’s breakfast blast July 21, 2015 With the BBC preparing to go to war with David Cameron over the broadcaster’s future, Breakfast Show host Bill Turnbull’s balls-up couldn’t have come at a better time. Turnball made a little slip on national television yesterday morning, confusing the words “customer” and “client” with a most unsavoury outcome. It’s not the first time the [...]
John Whittingdale is surprised by defensive BBC after green paper published July 19, 2015 Cukture secretary John Whittingdale said yesterday that he was surprised by the BBC’s defensive response towards a governmental review of its remit. Whittingdale published a green paper in the Commons last week, posing questions regarding the future of the BBC, which parliament will debate before the renewal of the network’s soon-to-expire Royal Charter. Following the [...]
BBC shows the strain over Tory reform plan: “Aunty has very much pulled up her sleeves” July 16, 2015 The BBC ramped up its fight with the government yesterday as a groundbreaking Conservative review threatened the broadcaster’s size, funding, content and regulation. Culture secretary John Whittingdale revealed a green paper on the future of the corporation, questioning whether it should aim to be “all things to all people”, attacking its “regressive” licence fee scheme [...]