BBC cuts after Tory pressure00: 56 27/02/2010, Mark Sweney, Steve Busfield, BBC, publishing, media, radio industry, the guardian, Guardian Unlimited

BBC cuts after Tory pressure00: 56 27/02/2010, Mark Sweney, Steve Busfield, BBC, publishing, media, radio industry, the guardian, Guardian Unlimited

Savings, including foreign programs under the original programs are reinvested into British
BBC may lay off quarter of staff line and about 6 Music
BBC 'ax to radio stations and halving review websites "in the strategic plans

The BBC is facing protests from listeners and presenters today after it was revealed that plans to close two radio stations and Internet services cut as part of a strategic review that says it will take to invest hundreds of millions of pounds in new public service programs.

The cuts are indicated in the report, Putting Quality First, include the closure of digital radio stations 6 Music and BBC Asian Network, halving the size of the operation of the Internet in business expansion, limiting spending on TV sports rights, cutting spending in foreign programs such as Mad Men, and a wave of sales of magazines such as BBC Top Gear. Up to 600 agents from the BBC and independent workers could lose their jobs. The proposed cuts prompted a furious reaction, with savebbc6music # one of the most popular posts on Twitter and more than 60,000 people signing a Facebook page, to rescue the digital radio station.

The BBC director general Mark Thompson is believed to have carried out briefings on the new strategy next week after the proposals were leaked. You should still be considered by the government of the corporation and the regulator, the BBC Trust. Thompson's decision to dramatically cut the scope of the BBC and expenses as follows growing pressure from conservatives, who have threatened cuts in case of coming to power in general elections, and rival media organizations struggling to compete with the activities of the corporation. The BBC has been caught between the cost of reducing the warnings of the conservative Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation newspapers preaching an agenda against the BBC.

The report was produced by BBC executives John Tate, a former head of the conservative political unit that co-wrote in 2005, the Conservative Party show with David Cameron.

The proposed cuts could save hundreds of millions the BBC, which has pledged to reinvest in high quality, original British programming. The BBC plan outlines five key principles which will focus on "producing the best journalism in the world, inspiring knowledge, culture, music, drama and comedy in the UK ambitious outstanding children's content and resonance events universal. "

However, the plan will cost many of the existing BBC services, the web transaction expected to be one of the most affected. Under the plans:

At least 350 officers, approximately 25% of staff BBC Online, could lose their jobs as the scope of the operation was halved to £ 134m budget was reduced by a quarter. Operation BBC website, see the number of web pages cut in half by 2013, with fewer stories published for the most original video and audio. The proposals also include the closure of various media brands in the BBC Blast and BBC Switch, which are aimed at teenagers.

BBC 6 Music and the Network of Asia are presented for closure. However, tens of thousands of people have already signed an online petition to save 6 Music and the issue has become a hot topic on Twitter.

100 EUR for the BBC to budget year to buy foreign films and television shows like Mad Men and Heroes, is reduced by 25% or more.

A cap will be presented in the amount spent on the BBC television sports rights, as stressed in football and Formula One, at 8.5% of license fee, or about 300 million pounds a year.

BBC Magazines, the division that publishes magazines including Radio Times and Top Gear, could be sold or licensed titles to commercial publishing. The division was heavily criticized for its acquisition of EUR 90 million in 2007 by Lonely Planet to be unnecessarily detrimental to business enterprises.

The general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, Jeremy Dear, said the union would oppose the cuts, with industrial action if necessary. "If true, these cuts will only result in the loss of hundreds of jobs, but the loss of value of production, quality targets young people and communities in Asia. We will fight with all our might, "Dear said.

Richard Bacon, host of the 6 Music and Radio 5 Live, said that closing the station would be "naive" and against the "very proposition of the BBC. He said there was "no logical reason" behind the closure of the station, which had an average weekly reach of 695,000 listeners in the last three months of last year. "Far from being an example of what is wrong with BBC 6 Music is a beautiful example of the BBC at its best."

Thompson will be hoping that the proposed measures will be enough to appease the desire of conservatives to cut the wings of the corporation. However, the BBC has not gone far enough to appease Rupert Murdoch, with a leader in the Times, stubborn, and cunning relaxed, saying the company would still be very large. The Minister of Culture of the shadow, Ed Vaizey said: "Mark Thompson appears to have responded to some of the main criticisms. It may not please Mr Murdoch and this is not the last word ... but do not want trounce the BBC. We want a smaller BBC, as it is doing for its commercial rivals, and this seems to have addressed a number of issues. "

The other side of the review is that a number of basic services of the BBC are likely to benefit from millions of pounds of investment in areas such as theater, journalism, children's shows and abroad. BBC2 will be a big winner with an increase of about 25 million pounds in the budget for programming and boost the role of quality dramatic production for more than 50% over the next three years. Spending on programs for children are also thought likely to benefit from an investment of 25 million pounds, while the BBC is pulling back the orientation adolescents. BBC1 also increase production of theater. BBC3 and BBC4, which at one stage in the review have been considered for the merger, will remain intact. However, BBC4 documentaries will be screened highest order.

A BBC spokesman said: "The BBC remains fully committed to Internet and digital television and radio. But the new strategy to chart the ways of focusing and concentrating investment charge on the areas and services that are distinctive and better compliance purposes public by the BBC, which meets the expectations of subscribers, but also leave plenty of space for commercial providers of the media. "

Commercial companies, which have been increasingly alarmed by the expansion of the BBC, in particular, newspapers and magazines of the groups affected by the operation of the corporation website, you'll have some joy of Thompson's plans.

A series of closure plans that require public consultation, which could mean that some of the proposals can not be delivered. " 'Examples' of the cuts are not set in stone tablets," said a BBC source involved in the review of the strategy. "However, if a value for money review determines a service should not close, something else must be cut.


Guardian writers assess the services of the BBC compared to restrictions or closure

6 Music

First, the case for the prosecution. Obviously, there are sectors of British society as well served by the media campaign 30-50-lovers of early music BBC 6 Music aims to target. There is certainly an argument that Asian corporate network, apparently also for the chop, is a better use of the license fee of a station that sometimes sounds like recreational type of sealing a noose around student indie disco 1989 . And certainly things wrong with 6 Music, not least the presence of fetid George Lamb, who seems to have been employed by the BBC after a search concerted and ultimately successful, to find a more irritating DJ Chris Moyles Radio One, an impressive feat to get through the expedient of continuously falling into false Jamaican patois.

Similarly, there is a feeling that the loss of 6 Music could create a hole in British broadcasting. Doing things that no other national radio station does, not least use knowledge, enthusiasm, music, presenters for the first time during the day, Lauren Laverne and Steve Lamacq between them.

In an era when a lazy, ironic detachment is the default setting of broadcasting, where everything from pop radio to television for children in early evening entertainment comes with a smile of satisfaction to know, is really quite surprising to hear .

There are programs that you can not imagine to find a home elsewhere on the network of the BBC: Jarvis Cocker intriguing Sunday services, classic rock sequence that trawls the archives of the BBC, and, above all, unparalleled Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone, a repository of music that everybody knows, and perhaps the most challenging and eclectic "rock" show in Britain. Playing free jazz, abstract electronics, and a notable recent incident, Spanish Christian psychedelia at teatime on a Sunday seems to fit with the model of broadcasting Reithian that underpins the BBC: there is a phrase that could apply to For example, BBC3, unless of course Lord Reith did some unreported observations on the need to keep putting in terrible sitcoms with Ralph little in them. Alexis Petridis


Foreign Imports

Really? In fact, you will cut the budget for foreign (read "U.S.") acquisitions and give the money to BBC2? Great - bigger billiard balls! More colors! Or maybe going to invest in new technology, 1-D and green eyeglass issue worldwide. Oh - wait. The 25% reduction in the budget of U.S. imports be used to create more "original content" for the channel. This would be less frightening if the phrase "original content on BBC2" still do not translate immediately into the mind of most viewers as "two pints of beer and a packet of crisps. These memories - of abysmal relentlessly modern British comedy - Die Hard.

The Wire. Damages. Mad Men. The Sopranos. Nurse Jackie. "Battlestar Galactica. The late, lamented Arrested Development. The best of U.S. more - which is largely but not exclusively, what comes to these shores - in general a disgrace to the natural outlet, overcoming our efforts in number, quality and consistency.

The audience, I suspect, would not the best in the world market for the nearest. Does not even have to worry about air miles before they return to enjoy a television imports. Until our country can routinely compete with what the States has to offer, how it benefits us to narrow our choice this way?

Ah, but how can we compete if we do not have the money to develop our own industry? Two points: first, that even the most ardent devotee BBC would have to concede, particularly in light of recent revelations and ongoing payment of business expenses and that is money that found in other parts of system that is ripe for the reallocation of the budget for acquisitions. The second is that access and exposure to the current leaders in the field encourages others to improve their games so that cultural protectionism, as proposed, simply does not.

We should give thanks that we speak the same language as the experts and keep buying until we have achieved. The Colbert Report is the apotheosis of civilization and currently available for purchase. Two pints ran for eight series. You still owe us. Lucy Mangan


BBC Sport

As with everything, from politics to pop music, so with games. When the BBC sport is good - every time a summer or winter arrives around the Olympics, for example - is unsurpassed in its provision of resources and expertise. When he is bad, like in Saturday night dressed now smugfest match of the day, wishing to leave the bottom and sell to Murdoch's nearest exit.

The BBC was deeply involved in the sport long before the explosion of popularity and prosperity of the past 20 years. For many of us, I first saw - or heard, for we must not forget the pioneering role of the radio - an international rugby match, a European Cup final, a grand prix, the race or party Wimbledon's Center Court. That history gives the company the right either to maintain an active interest, even in highly commercial environment of the 21st century.

But it also means that it must live up to its traditions, avoiding excess in all its forms, even in an era in which the excess is the dominant mode.

If the new CAP, 8.5% of the fee means making cuts, perhaps program producers should consider relying on other knowledge, experience and, most eloquent commentator or summarizes rather than three or four retired athletes trying to start life in the media that once affected to despise. Be more diligent in preparing and Longhursts new Arlotts Wolstenholme, and leave the rest to Rupert. Richard Williams


Asian Network

The case of maintenance of the Network of Asia can be done with a single figure: $ 2.3 million. That is the sum total of people in the 2001 census described themselves as Asian. This equates to 4% of the population, and a good chunk of the license fee payers - and yet hardly serve by the BBC. This is not my point, is the proposed audience research of the Corporation. How could it be otherwise? BBC executives certainly acknowledge the presence of Asians in the UK - as the families of Albert Square token, or mate-presenters of hair on the newsletters. But when was the last time you saw an article on, say, the point of that News 10 reported that Asians were doing, unlike the exciting coverage of the Muslim problem?

It is this huge void of representation under the Network of Asia that is supposed to fill in what should be the toughest competition on the radio.

How cheap can you run station to serve listeners who live in this country, but from a vast continent of three nations, 1.4 billion people, with the followers of different religions and speak dozens of languages? The answer is: by a very irregular. The Adil Ray breakfast program is fun and well produced, host of the lunch hour is likeably Nihal blokeish and some of the small hours of music programs are refreshingly experimental, but much of the rest of the drift zone.

More seriously, the network commissioners have not given enough attention to how to meet Asian audience that is already well into its third generation in the UK.

Is trying to please the auntyjis with religious songs, while the boys play in baggy jeans with modern Bollywood, but rarely station address these different parts of the same family at a time. News and documentaries are surprisingly weak.

But these are not reasons to improve the network of Asia, not the ax. This is after all much closer to the notion of public service broadcasting the game for 6 Music to play "classic" Elastica B-sides of earnest 30-somethings.

And besides the question of production, the Asian Network is also a valuable resource for the rest of the BBC: A group of often very talented producers and presenters with knowledge of one of the fastest growing communities in Britain . Does the BBC really want to break all that just to pay more (ahem) national treasure that is Chris Moyles? Aditya Chakrabortty

BBC
Radio industry
Mark Sweney
Steve Busfield


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