Post by Teddy Bear on Aug 2, 2011 21:31:48 GMT
If you're like me, you may never have heard of this place, or its annual festival. Considering that the BBC broadcast of it will go out in Welsh, therefore to a minority of followers, one can only wonder at the BBC sense of 'giving value for money' in sending so many staff to cover it.
But these kind of decisions are what we have come to expect from this bloated organisation.
John Osmond, director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs, said the number of BBC staff involved should be seen in the context of the eisteddfod's cultural importance.
He said: "There's nowhere else in the European Union that holds an event of this size, range and scope, and certainly not in relation to a minority language.
There may be a very good reason for that. Other companies have to justify their expenses.
But these kind of decisions are what we have come to expect from this bloated organisation.
John Osmond, director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs, said the number of BBC staff involved should be seen in the context of the eisteddfod's cultural importance.
He said: "There's nowhere else in the European Union that holds an event of this size, range and scope, and certainly not in relation to a minority language.
There may be a very good reason for that. Other companies have to justify their expenses.
BBC using 238 staff to cover Eisteddfod
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
South Wales Evening Post
THE BBC is using 238 staff to cover this week's National Eisteddfod, more than it sent to the Wimbledon tennis championships, it has emerged.
The figure was revealed as the broadcaster is cutting back on services — for example coverage of Formula 1 racing — in an attempt to find savings.
The amount of resources being used to report the action from the Maes puts it alongside the BBC's other main outside broadcasting operations — figures for 2010 show the corporation sent 185 staff to the Wimbledon tennis tournament, which was watched by 29.3 million people, and 274 for the Glastonbury music festival.
Sian Gwynedd, head of Welsh-language programmes at BBC Wales, said: "We're aware that we have to work efficiently on several platforms and make sure we don't send more people than we have to. Everybody works hard.
"It's important that we reflect much more than the competing on the stage. I think the staffing figure this year is slightly less than last year. We do a lot more with the Eisteddfod. A full internet service is expected now.
"There's been an increase in the number of hours. If there are more hours, more effort is needed to fill them."
The BBC boss said that of the 238 people working for the corporation at the eisteddfod, some 138 were contract staff rather than permanent employees, while many would only be on the Maes to cover specific events and would get day passes as needed.
This year the BBC is providing 95 hours of Eisteddfod material for Welsh language channel S4C, as well as coverage for BBC Wales and a half-hour Eisteddfod programme which will be broadcast across Britain on BBC2.
Radio Cymru is broadcasting 95 hours from the Maes and surrounding area, with another 17 hours of Eisteddfod-related English language programmes on Radio Wales.
The BBC is also providing coverage on the internet including competition results and live streaming of 75 hours of action.
John Osmond, director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs, said the number of BBC staff involved should be seen in the context of the eisteddfod's cultural importance.
He said: "There's nowhere else in the European Union that holds an event of this size, range and scope, and certainly not in relation to a minority language.
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
South Wales Evening Post
THE BBC is using 238 staff to cover this week's National Eisteddfod, more than it sent to the Wimbledon tennis championships, it has emerged.
The figure was revealed as the broadcaster is cutting back on services — for example coverage of Formula 1 racing — in an attempt to find savings.
The amount of resources being used to report the action from the Maes puts it alongside the BBC's other main outside broadcasting operations — figures for 2010 show the corporation sent 185 staff to the Wimbledon tennis tournament, which was watched by 29.3 million people, and 274 for the Glastonbury music festival.
Sian Gwynedd, head of Welsh-language programmes at BBC Wales, said: "We're aware that we have to work efficiently on several platforms and make sure we don't send more people than we have to. Everybody works hard.
"It's important that we reflect much more than the competing on the stage. I think the staffing figure this year is slightly less than last year. We do a lot more with the Eisteddfod. A full internet service is expected now.
"There's been an increase in the number of hours. If there are more hours, more effort is needed to fill them."
The BBC boss said that of the 238 people working for the corporation at the eisteddfod, some 138 were contract staff rather than permanent employees, while many would only be on the Maes to cover specific events and would get day passes as needed.
This year the BBC is providing 95 hours of Eisteddfod material for Welsh language channel S4C, as well as coverage for BBC Wales and a half-hour Eisteddfod programme which will be broadcast across Britain on BBC2.
Radio Cymru is broadcasting 95 hours from the Maes and surrounding area, with another 17 hours of Eisteddfod-related English language programmes on Radio Wales.
The BBC is also providing coverage on the internet including competition results and live streaming of 75 hours of action.
John Osmond, director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs, said the number of BBC staff involved should be seen in the context of the eisteddfod's cultural importance.
He said: "There's nowhere else in the European Union that holds an event of this size, range and scope, and certainly not in relation to a minority language.
