BBC 'shake up' gets mixed reaction

net1

New DG Mark Thompson's announcement of nearly 3,000 job losses and a major move to Manchester, all in aid of more money for programmes, has received a mixed reaction.

Thompson said the over all aim is to save £320m (E463m) a year that will be put into the schedules. While many commended the move as shifting the argument over the value of the BBC forward, others were unimpressed with the lack of detail.

Critics claim the major announcement was notable for what it didn't say. There will be no wholesale move out of commercial activities, just vague pledges on more partnerships and more awareness of when the BBC was damaging a free market rather than compensating for it. No figures were put on the cost of the Manchester move or what benefits it will really deliver.

Most significantly the Governors, chaired by Michael Grade, raised only two cheers, commenting that they would need to see the details and the figures before deciding whether to give their approval.

The big announcement overshadowed news of a new global children's channel to cash in on the success of the likes of Teletubbies. The channel could be set up in partnership with another company. BBC chief operating officer John Smith said: “We think the brand will sell.”