P45s at G51?

Thompson and those famous teeth
You may be slightly confused about what’s going on over at BBC Scotland's spanking new complex with its controversial grunting toilets. First – possibly as a response to the Scottish Govts Broadcasting Commisison - we had the announcement by (the famously man-biting) Mark Thompson on 25 September of ‘major new investment’ and that future plans at the new HQ would include:

-Relaunching a number of existing programme titles at Pacific Quay
-Commissioning more fresh ideas from Scottish programme-makers.
-More Scottish-based drama
-Additional network comedy hits like Still Game
-More entertainment, children's programmes and more specialist factual programmes
-A boost to network radio and multimedia production

Sounded fab.

Yesterday, October 15th they announce: “BBC websites, TV news programme editors and BBC Scotland are three of the areas set to be hit by cost-cutting plans to be put forward by the BBC director general, Mark Thompson, to the corporation' s trust.”

The Gruniad had the story saying: “MediaGuardian.co.uk has also been told that BBC Scotland and, potentially, BBC Wales are due to be affected by the cuts. However, it is understood the issue has caused a row within the BBC Trust, so these proposals could be watered down."

Factual programme-makers are also set to feel the force of the cuts and £100m will be sliced off the BBC's annual original content budget - leading to more repeats.

There have been reports that, in total, around 12% of the BBC's workforce is due to be axed, or up to 2,800 jobs.”
Mark Thompson will address all staff on Thursday at 10am to tell them his plans.

So, just to recap the last two years here it is in summary: tell everyone there will be massive reduncancies, then say actualy we need you to stay, then move to a fantastic new building, then announce more cuts, then, in the face of opposition that less and less is being produced in Scotland announce major investment, then job cuts, this Thursday.

Is this where Joined Up Thinking and the famous Feral Media finally meet?

1 Comment


It's worse than thought:

'BBC Scotland is to cut 210 posts over the next five years to save money, it has been announced.
It is proposed that 130 new jobs will be created over the same period, resulting in a net loss of 80 posts.

The National Union of Journalists voiced shock at the scale of the cuts and called for "maximum consultation".

First Minister Alex Salmond described the cuts as "drastic", while the Tories and Labour warned against a loss of quality in programmes and output.

Director General Mark Thompson said about 2,500 cuts were being made across the UK as the BBC attempts to plug a £2bn funding shortfall.'

Davey G on October 18, 2007 at 10:11 PM

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