Post by Teddy Bear on Oct 8, 2010 19:14:39 GMT
With Mark Thompson apparently very worried about Rupert Murdoch taking over the whole of Sky, he might do better to examine why he feels it necessary to send more staff thousands of miles to a remote region in Chile than any other international broadcaster.
The only way Thompson can compete with any private media companies is to try and block their advance, he sure can't do it with any good business acumen.
The only way Thompson can compete with any private media companies is to try and block their advance, he sure can't do it with any good business acumen.
BBC sends team of 25 to cover Chilean mine rescue with escape shaft expected to break through on Saturday
By Paul Revoir and Matt Sanchez
Last updated at 10:43 AM on 8th October 2010
The BBC has spent tens of thousands of pounds sending an ‘extraordinary’ army of staff to cover the story of the trapped Chilean miners.
About 25 corporation staff will be there for the release of the trapped men, expected this weekend, just eight people fewer than those being rescued.
It is understood that coverage of the long-running story has cost in the region of £70,000, with newsgathering staff joined by teams from Panorama and Radio 5 Live.
Other organisations covering the event have been shocked at the numbers of corporation employees covering the story in South America.
Of the total of 25 BBC people covering the event, 20 of them come from the main part of the broadcaster with a further handful from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office funded World Service wing of the broadcaster.
Rivals such as ITV News and Sky News have sent nowhere near the same amount of people.
Sky News have three people covering the story for radio, online and TV.
A spokesman for the satellite broadcaster said once the men were released it would be sending a further six people.
Firefighters receive instructions during a put on of the rescue of the 33 miners trapped in San Jose mine
Ready for action: The rescue tunnel is expected to reach the miners by Saturday with the men potentially being released by Tuesday
Trucks loaded with tubes that will be used to protect the tunnel through which the 33 trapped miners at the San Jose mine will be rescued, cross the camp outside the mine in Copiapo, Chile
Temporary community: Relatives of the miners have set up camp on the surface next to the collapsed mine as they wait for the men to be freed
A crane lifts a capsule that will be used as part of Chilean mine rescue operation
Capsule: The rescue mission could start bringing the miners out in the next few days after being trapped underground since August 5
ITV News has a team of four people to cover the story, while its breakfast service Daybreak has another two people.
Sources suggest the BBC has the largest international contingent at the site, second only to Chilean 24-hours news network TVN.
Its presence includes presenters, producers, translators, technicians and camera operators, split between online reporting, the BBC World Service and television crews.
BBC News channel presenter Tim Wilcox has been fronting much of the corporation’s coverage on the story.
The BBC has claimed the story has generated worldwide interest and is taking place in one of the world’s most remote locations. It is understood that a significant number of BBC staff have been flown out from London to cover the story.
A spokesman for the broadcaster said: ‘The plight of the Chilean miners has aroused worldwide interest. It is a long running story taking place in one of the world’s most remote locations. BBC News has devoted appropriate resources to ensuring that we have been able to report the story in depth to our UK and global audiences on television, radio and online.’
Crew member Mauricio Ramos added: ‘We have a full team to cover everything… Now we are working in shifts but on the day of the rescue we will all be here until the end – and afterwards at the miners’ hospital.’
The broadcaster has set up four field tents on the site, equipped with tables, chairs, laptops, generators and transmitters, as well as a wooden platform overlooking the mine for live broadcasts and reports.
The BBC and other broadcasters are camping out alongside the miner’s families at the site.
One BBC News worker said on the internet: ‘I have just heard how much Chile miners coverage is going to cost the BBC. Oh, My, and indeed God.’
A source at a rival broadcaster added: ‘It certainly seems extraordinary that this number of people is needed to cover a story which is essentially contained in such a small geographic location.’
One BBC worker at the sited admitted the cost of its coverage was ‘very expensive’.
The 33 miners have been trapped in the San Jose Mine, near the town of Copiapo in northern Chile, for over two months now.
Speaking last night, mining minister Lawrence Golborne said the rescue tunnel could break through in the next 24 hours, with the men potentially being freed as early as Tuesday.
Rescuers are planning on sending a video camera down the shaft once the drilling reaches the men to determine if the operation can take place without the hole caving in.
A metal capsule, dubbed the Phoenix, will then be used to pluck the miners out one by one.
A 16 person specialist rescue team, including a doctor, have already arrived at the site ahead of the difficult mission.
By Paul Revoir and Matt Sanchez
Last updated at 10:43 AM on 8th October 2010
The BBC has spent tens of thousands of pounds sending an ‘extraordinary’ army of staff to cover the story of the trapped Chilean miners.
About 25 corporation staff will be there for the release of the trapped men, expected this weekend, just eight people fewer than those being rescued.
It is understood that coverage of the long-running story has cost in the region of £70,000, with newsgathering staff joined by teams from Panorama and Radio 5 Live.
Other organisations covering the event have been shocked at the numbers of corporation employees covering the story in South America.
Of the total of 25 BBC people covering the event, 20 of them come from the main part of the broadcaster with a further handful from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office funded World Service wing of the broadcaster.
Rivals such as ITV News and Sky News have sent nowhere near the same amount of people.
Sky News have three people covering the story for radio, online and TV.
A spokesman for the satellite broadcaster said once the men were released it would be sending a further six people.
Firefighters receive instructions during a put on of the rescue of the 33 miners trapped in San Jose mine
Ready for action: The rescue tunnel is expected to reach the miners by Saturday with the men potentially being released by Tuesday
Trucks loaded with tubes that will be used to protect the tunnel through which the 33 trapped miners at the San Jose mine will be rescued, cross the camp outside the mine in Copiapo, Chile
Temporary community: Relatives of the miners have set up camp on the surface next to the collapsed mine as they wait for the men to be freed
A crane lifts a capsule that will be used as part of Chilean mine rescue operation
Capsule: The rescue mission could start bringing the miners out in the next few days after being trapped underground since August 5
ITV News has a team of four people to cover the story, while its breakfast service Daybreak has another two people.
Sources suggest the BBC has the largest international contingent at the site, second only to Chilean 24-hours news network TVN.
Its presence includes presenters, producers, translators, technicians and camera operators, split between online reporting, the BBC World Service and television crews.
BBC News channel presenter Tim Wilcox has been fronting much of the corporation’s coverage on the story.
The BBC has claimed the story has generated worldwide interest and is taking place in one of the world’s most remote locations. It is understood that a significant number of BBC staff have been flown out from London to cover the story.
A spokesman for the broadcaster said: ‘The plight of the Chilean miners has aroused worldwide interest. It is a long running story taking place in one of the world’s most remote locations. BBC News has devoted appropriate resources to ensuring that we have been able to report the story in depth to our UK and global audiences on television, radio and online.’
Crew member Mauricio Ramos added: ‘We have a full team to cover everything… Now we are working in shifts but on the day of the rescue we will all be here until the end – and afterwards at the miners’ hospital.’
The broadcaster has set up four field tents on the site, equipped with tables, chairs, laptops, generators and transmitters, as well as a wooden platform overlooking the mine for live broadcasts and reports.
The BBC and other broadcasters are camping out alongside the miner’s families at the site.
One BBC News worker said on the internet: ‘I have just heard how much Chile miners coverage is going to cost the BBC. Oh, My, and indeed God.’
A source at a rival broadcaster added: ‘It certainly seems extraordinary that this number of people is needed to cover a story which is essentially contained in such a small geographic location.’
One BBC worker at the sited admitted the cost of its coverage was ‘very expensive’.
The 33 miners have been trapped in the San Jose Mine, near the town of Copiapo in northern Chile, for over two months now.
Speaking last night, mining minister Lawrence Golborne said the rescue tunnel could break through in the next 24 hours, with the men potentially being freed as early as Tuesday.
Rescuers are planning on sending a video camera down the shaft once the drilling reaches the men to determine if the operation can take place without the hole caving in.
A metal capsule, dubbed the Phoenix, will then be used to pluck the miners out one by one.
A 16 person specialist rescue team, including a doctor, have already arrived at the site ahead of the difficult mission.