Post by Teddy Bear on Sept 9, 2014 20:34:08 GMT
Sajid Javid, the culture secretary, justifiably finds it wasteful that the BBC feel it necessary to send a staff of 10 to Jersey to cover the baton handover in the Commonwealth Games. He's the same man who is pushing to decriminalize non-payment of the licence fee.
My best advice would be to privatise the BBC, then they can send as many as they like to wherever they like for as long as they can remain in business, and then we'll all see just how much their claims to quality that their audience 'love' is really validated.
My best advice would be to privatise the BBC, then they can send as many as they like to wherever they like for as long as they can remain in business, and then we'll all see just how much their claims to quality that their audience 'love' is really validated.
Ten staff covering baton handover proves BBC is too big, says Sajid Javid
The Culture Secretary tells the Royal Television Society that overmanning proves the BBC can make cuts
Hannah Furness
The size of the BBC proves it can find more savings despite its protestations, the culture secretary Sajid Javid has said, as he condemns the large number of employees it sent out to cover one news story.
Mr Javid, who spoke at the Royal Television Society conference yesterday, said more "can and must be done" to make the BBC more efficient.
Saying the corporation can "continue to work harder", he pointed out the size and scope of the BBC had made it evident there are still savings to be made.
Referring to the handover of the Commonwealth Games baton in Jersey, he told an audience he had found it "odd" to see ten members of BBC staff covering the one story.
Lord Hall, the director-general of the BBC who spoke after him, acknowledged the issue of "overmanning", but argued programme-makers must find the right balance to keep up editorial standards.
James Purnell, director of strategy and digital at the BBC, said the "sword of Damocles" was now hanging over the licence fee more than ever, with arguments about how much it costs the public now arising every year.
Savings had already been made, he said, but added a budget cut to soap Eastenders had to be reversed following a noticeable drop in quality.
The issue will be fiercely debated in the run up to the BBC's charter review, which will begin in earnest after the general election.
Mr Javid, who made a key note speech on the government's plans for the industry, told an audience: "The hard-working families who fund the BBC are still finding savings wherever they can.
"While I support the work Lord Hall is doing to find savings across the Corporation, I believe more can and must be done to make the BBC more efficient.
"For example, not long after I became Secretary of State I travelled to Jersey to meet the Commonwealth Games baton.
"What I found odd was the number of people representing one broadcaster.
"The BBC had ten staff in attendance, three of them reporters. Is that really justifiable?"
When asked where he thought it was possible for the BBC to make savings, he added: "When you have an organisation of that size, it's not impossible to find savings if you try really hard.
"The BBC has been trying and there are many examples of where the BBC has been able to save money without necessarily affecting the quality of service they offer.
"My view is that they can continue to work harder in the space. The size of the organisation, the number of areas it's involved in, I think suggests there are savings that can be made."
A BBC source pointed out the Jersey story had been covered on numerous channels, including BBC Breakfast news, BBC One news, the rolling news channel, Newsround, radios 2, 3, 4 and Five Live, the website, social media, local radio and local television.
A spokesman for the corporation said: "We're happy to discuss the issue with the Secretary of State.
"We always consider value for money when we decide how to cover events for national, regional and local television and radio outlets as well as online.
"We've already improved efficiency to ensure we're delivering value for licence fee payers but will always look at what more we can do."
The Culture Secretary tells the Royal Television Society that overmanning proves the BBC can make cuts
Hannah Furness
The size of the BBC proves it can find more savings despite its protestations, the culture secretary Sajid Javid has said, as he condemns the large number of employees it sent out to cover one news story.
Mr Javid, who spoke at the Royal Television Society conference yesterday, said more "can and must be done" to make the BBC more efficient.
Saying the corporation can "continue to work harder", he pointed out the size and scope of the BBC had made it evident there are still savings to be made.
Referring to the handover of the Commonwealth Games baton in Jersey, he told an audience he had found it "odd" to see ten members of BBC staff covering the one story.
Lord Hall, the director-general of the BBC who spoke after him, acknowledged the issue of "overmanning", but argued programme-makers must find the right balance to keep up editorial standards.
James Purnell, director of strategy and digital at the BBC, said the "sword of Damocles" was now hanging over the licence fee more than ever, with arguments about how much it costs the public now arising every year.
Savings had already been made, he said, but added a budget cut to soap Eastenders had to be reversed following a noticeable drop in quality.
The issue will be fiercely debated in the run up to the BBC's charter review, which will begin in earnest after the general election.
Mr Javid, who made a key note speech on the government's plans for the industry, told an audience: "The hard-working families who fund the BBC are still finding savings wherever they can.
"While I support the work Lord Hall is doing to find savings across the Corporation, I believe more can and must be done to make the BBC more efficient.
"For example, not long after I became Secretary of State I travelled to Jersey to meet the Commonwealth Games baton.
"What I found odd was the number of people representing one broadcaster.
"The BBC had ten staff in attendance, three of them reporters. Is that really justifiable?"
When asked where he thought it was possible for the BBC to make savings, he added: "When you have an organisation of that size, it's not impossible to find savings if you try really hard.
"The BBC has been trying and there are many examples of where the BBC has been able to save money without necessarily affecting the quality of service they offer.
"My view is that they can continue to work harder in the space. The size of the organisation, the number of areas it's involved in, I think suggests there are savings that can be made."
A BBC source pointed out the Jersey story had been covered on numerous channels, including BBC Breakfast news, BBC One news, the rolling news channel, Newsround, radios 2, 3, 4 and Five Live, the website, social media, local radio and local television.
A spokesman for the corporation said: "We're happy to discuss the issue with the Secretary of State.
"We always consider value for money when we decide how to cover events for national, regional and local television and radio outlets as well as online.
"We've already improved efficiency to ensure we're delivering value for licence fee payers but will always look at what more we can do."
