Freedom Central » BBC

Uncertain times for BBC Wales

Freedom Central — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:11:35 +0000

This morning’s Western Mail reports that cuts on a scale that would call into question BBC Wales’ status as a national broadcaster are being considered:

A document in circulation within BBC Wales suggests coverage of the National Eisteddfod and the Royal Welsh Show could be downgraded, while flagship current affairs programme Week In, Week Out and the Welsh element of the Politics Show could be scrapped.

News and sports coverage could also be significantly cut.

Baroness Randerson, Welsh Liberal Democrat peer and former Welsh Culture Minister, said: “If what is being suggested here is implemented, this would have a significant impact on cultural and political life in Wales.

“With the Assembly maturing in its role as a legislating body, BBC Wales should be widening and deepening its political coverage, not leaving it to wither on the vine.”

Huge taxi bill comes under fire

Freedom Central — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 11:46:22 +0000

This morning’s Wales on Sunday leads on the outcome of a freedom of information request that reveals that BBC Wales spent nearly £600,000 on taxis for BBC Wales staff in just 18 months.

The paper says that this is the equivalent of 44p for every single household in Wales on taxi expenses. The average daily spend of £1,088 is the same as taking a taxi from Cardiff – where BBC Wales has its headquarters – to John O’Groats in the far north of Scotland:

Staff in the drama department spent the most on transport in the period, totting up £170,342 in fares – more than 10,000 times as much as the most frugal department.

Arts departmental management staff claimed the lowest amount, charging the corporation £17 – less than £1 a month.

A BBC Wales spokesman said: “In 2009 to 2010 BBC Wales produced more than 1,500 hours of television programming and nearly 14,000 hours of radio with a total turnover of £150m.

“Transport costs are an inevitable consequence of these business activities, with around half of this spend incurred to transport guests, artists and contributors.

“However, every effort is made to minimise the level of such costs, including use of a centralised booking system which enables us to monitor taxi use and negotiate better deals with suppliers.”

Playing fair with Question Time #bbcqt

Freedom Central — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:46:27 +0000

As the year turned, Jonny Oates the Lib Dems Comms guru penned a piece for Lib Dem Voice, asking members of the Lib Dems to help challenge media bias. How very pertinent.

The BBC have just announced their panel for this week’s question time. For the third time in four weeks it doesn’t include a Liberal Democrat.

A number of Lib Dems have complained, with gathering pace, about this lack of representation. The response from Gavin Allen was:

“The Liberal Democrats like all parties get representation based on their level of electoral support, which means they are on most – but not all – ‘Question Time’ panels across each series. We believe it adds to the breadth of debate to have perspectives from politicians and non-politicians alike, so places are always limited even within a five-person panel.”

Complaints about non representation have focussed on the timing when a Lib Dem hasn’t been on a panel. For example after Blair appeared in front of Chilcot.

In this season of Question Time the Lib Dems also got dumped unceremoniously once. It’s hard not to see this exclusion of the Lib Dems as a pattern of behaviour and partiality in Question Time. If you think that the BBC should base representation on level of support then take the time to take some action.

Step 1: Contact the BBC about it.

Step 2: Spread the word to your friends. Suggest they do it – mention it on your facebook and twitter

Step 3: Write a blog post

Unlike almost every other TV show Question Time tends to invite people on specifically rather than go to party’s to nominate. It isn’t like the Welsh Lib Dems have spokespeople who are unusual or when appearing on tele and Question Time itself wining plaudits. Two of them are women in their 30′s. One is our party leader, another an MP in Cardiff.

For FC readers based outside Wales, lets take a moment to highlight that the Welsh Lib Dems have more MP’s than either the Welsh Tories or Plaid Cymru. Shortly, when people drive into Wales it will be a Welsh Lib Dem led campaign that means you can pay by credit card, as you hit Newport it will be the Welsh Lib Dems who as part of the council administration are delivering integrated solutions to safeguard jobs. Wander round Cardiff and the pavements you walk on are the responsibility of the Welsh Lib Dem led Council. They will lead you to one of the biggest shopping centres in the UK, employing 4000 extra people. Delivered by the Welsh Lib Dems. And that’s before we even start on the scrutiny of expenses forcing a apology from the first minister, the storm on education underfunding that is gathering pace or the achievements of the Lib Dems when they were in Government…

A disappearing Wales?

Freedom Central — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:44:22 +0000

The Institute for Welsh Affairs has warned that Wales could become virtually invisible on television schedules unless Government money is pumped into broadcasting.

Currently, less than one in every 2,000 hours of television broadcast in the UK consists of English-language programming made for Welsh audiences but the IWA believes that this level, amounting to 0.048%, will shrink to almost nothing without Government intervention to ensure more programmes are made in English that cater directly for Wales.

Figures produced by Ofcom in 2008 indicated that, of the 2,483,495 hours of television broadcast in the UK, only 1,193 were made in English for the Welsh audience – equivalent to one hour for every 2,081 hours broadcast.

Since 2008 production of general programmes for Wales has declined even further as a result of cuts in ITV Wales’ output in January this year and further reductions at BBC Wales.

The IWA’s warning echoes those of the Assembly’s Broadcasting Sub-Committee and many other expert commentators and reflects the crisis facing Welsh broadcasting and the failure of commercial television in particular to adapt to devolution and a growing Welsh identity.

In part the crisis though is not of the sector’s making as they are struggling to deliver traditional programming against the backdrop of declining advertising revenues and the growth of multi-channel and multi-media entertainment.

IWA Chairman Geraint Talfan Davies, a former Controller of BBC Wales, said: “Any mature, modern society needs a full reflection of its democracy, activity, interests and talents on its main means of mass communication. It nurtures a society’s self-respect and is a vital aid to its social coherence. We are not talking about a luxury, but a basic means of connecting people together.

“The internet and online services will play a big part in future and we must invest in them, but it is far too soon to be shutting down the traditional television service. Wales will disappear from view in the timing gap.”