BBC move north in even greater doubt

David Ottewell

November 13, 2006

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BBC Director General Mark Thompson

THE planned BBC move to Salford has been thrown into further doubt - after the government appeared to be pushing for a below-inflation increase in the licence fee.

Sources close to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown reportedly indicated that the Labour leadership was pressing for a settlement one per cent below inflation.

BBC director general Mark Thompson has already warned that the Salford switch - which would see departments including sport and children's TV moved to northern headquarters - could be scrapped or scaled back if the fee increase agreed was too low.

The corporation had been pushing for an inflation-plus-2.3 per cent rise, lifting the fee to about é150 per household. That demand dropped last month to inflation-plus-1.8 per cent.

Mr Thompson said then that in the event of a low settlement, he would not be able to recommend to the BBC board that the Salford move went ahead.

"We would have to find other, more modest ways of increasing our investment in the north," he added. Senior politicians across Greater Manchester reacted with fury, saying the Salford move would create a total of nearly 30,000 jobs and eventually prove both economically and artistically beneficial to the BBC.

Hazel Blears, the MP for Salford, said: "It would be a missed opportunity of epic proportions."

A BBC spokesman declined to comment on the leaks, saying: "We have put our case forward and we are waiting to hear."

A total of 164 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion calling for the BBC to "honour its commitment to the 14.4m licence fee payers living in the north by confirming participation in mediacity".

Do you think the mo ve will take place? Have your say.

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Ms D, Manchester (13/11/2006 at 11:28)

How dare they expect the viewer to pay for their move ! The licence fee in itself should be scrapped and they should get their money from fat cat advertisers and not the public. The BBC pushes out repeats with overpaid and overblown "stars" and I couldn't care less if they started showing adverts. The public would be pleased by this if they didn't have to pay for a licence. It can stay in London as far as I am concerned and I would refuse to pay the increase if there was one. In fact, everyone should refuse to buy a licence. What can they do, jail us all ?

Miles Platting, Chorlton (13/11/2006 at 11:32)

Does anyone else think this move's fundamentally a dodgy idea?

I mean, if you're a middle-class media worker, a property developer or an estate agent, it's brilliant! But what benefit's it going to bring to the ordinary people of Salford? Just more expensive baaaahs in town, more posh flats and more inequality.

We should be encouraging development, certainly - but this BBC move's a massive white elephant that's only good news for the people trying to turn Manchester into yet another clone city full of glass towers and cocktail bars.

Chris Paul, City Centre (13/11/2006 at 11:56)

The government should stop these BBC shenanigans in their tracks. Let the BBC have a small increase if and only if they move to Manchester.

No move, no deal.

Ace Riley, manchester (13/11/2006 at 11:57)

I wonder how many people reading this would like to try taking this government and the BBC to the courts of human rights?? because we are being forced against our will to pay for something that we dont want or need? and if we are caught with a receiver in our homes we are under threat of prison/heavy fines??" and a criminal record?" surely putting people under these pressures is tantomount to torture? A threat to the poorer people in our society?If it was a private company it would be seen as a evasive and criminal actions?SO WHY DOES THE BBC GET AWAY WITH IT ?we need to get toghether and fight the government and the BBC and tell them that we dont want to be forced to watch their programs we want freedom of choice???????

Ace Riley, manchester (13/11/2006 at 12:10)

The other big brother thing is if you buy a tv from a large store they will not sell it to you unless you give them your details so that they know if you have a tv licence or not??what other company does things like this?? could you imagine if you bought a sewing machine and had to prove who you are??big brother has been here for years??THE BBC"

Noel, Eccles (13/11/2006 at 12:58)

The Government should try playing the BBC at their own game. Give them the huge increase they want so they'll move to Salford... then when they cry for more money next year, refuse to give them any more increases for the next five years!

Gary, sk13 (13/11/2006 at 13:18)

Come on BBC, either come out and say if we do not get the increase we want then we are not moving, or move up here now, They are playing with peoples futures here. If they do not move it is another smack in the face for the north by the southern biased bbc.

Sue, Salford (13/11/2006 at 13:25)

Seeing as the BBC appears to be totally London-oriented, perhaps then the people of London and the South East should cough up and pay for their own, regional, television channel.

It's about time that the BBC became self-funding, like all the other television channels that we in the UK have access to.

Let's get rid of the licence fee once and for all.

Pete, Manchester (13/11/2006 at 13:36)

Scrap the licence fee. Keep Salford BBC free.

Ms D, Manchester (13/11/2006 at 13:44)

Ace,

I bought a TV a few years ago and two days after I brought it home, I was burgled and the Tv taken. Coincidence ? I'm not sure. Do we know who handles the paperwork when a TV buyer gives their address ? Since then, I have bought a couple of TV's and lied about my address when I bought them. I make up an address and they just type it in and don't bother to check. I have nothing to hide - I have a licence but I'm not chancing getting burgled again. Beware !

Out of interest - does anyone know if people in other European countries have to pay for a licence if they have state run TV ? If not, isn't there a case with the European Courts like the new cigarettes and alcohol one going through ? Someone should try it !

C Sidnell, Manchester (13/11/2006 at 14:16)

So what if the BBC propose to generate 30,000 new jobs and businesses in Greater Manchester?! So what if Manchester and Salford's economy and international profile will be tranformed?! God forbid we should have to pay a few quid more on the license fee! God forbid we should have to suffer an influx of "London media types"! With attitudes as welcoming and enlightened as these, the BBC and it's staff could be forgiven for having second thoughts.

David, Manchester (13/11/2006 at 15:28)

To answer that question, you have to pay a license fee in most European countries, except The Netherlands and probably also not if you are one of the 35,000 who work for the EU as they are exempt almost all forms of taxation.

Pamela, Crumpsall (13/11/2006 at 16:56)

If 90% of the BBC is in London, then Londoners should pay 90% of the licence tax. We in Greater Manchester should not be used as some kind of bargaining chips for the greedy BBC, which has more in funding than Manchester City Council and we get more for our money there (but not much). And if the BBC stays down south, then scrap the subsidised London Weighting, which is the extra couple of thousand every staff member gets paid for working in London, that would save more than enough to pay for a move.

Ezz, Horwich (13/11/2006 at 19:15)

If the BBC got rid of the new TV and radio channels with little or no audience they could easily afford the move, and probably wouldn't need a licence increase.

Andrew, Creuse, France (13/11/2006 at 21:37)

It's about time the BBC moved away from London, its the capital, but by no means the centre of 'this sceptered isle', if nothing else it might save on accomodation and hospitality costs. As an ex-mancunian I can only watch with pride as THE city (Manchester) and Salford rise from the ashes. Watching from far away with baited breath. Here's hoping! Andrew

Mark, South Manchester (14/11/2006 at 10:02)

Why won't people up here admit it - this proposed move to Salford is DEAD! It is and always has been a NON STARTER!
The BBC have just "used" Manchester/Salford as a political "ploy" - so at the same time they can get the Government to cough up more money for their beloved London projects.

Andy, Manchester (14/11/2006 at 10:41)

Are property prices in Salford that much higher than London??? Surely the Beeb would be saving money if they eventually decide to move 'up north'?

Brian, Chorlton (14/11/2006 at 11:25)

The reactionary nay-sayers are the the kind of people who would rather have Manchester as an insular, backward provincial town like Stoke or Liverpool.

Thankfully, these miserabilists who contribute nothing to a city's progress have been ignored over the past decade and people with zest have brought Manchester forward.

The proposed BBC move will hopefully be an important stage in this development.

John M, Rusholme (14/11/2006 at 12:30)

I'm starting to get tired of this!
Scrap the Wireless Telegraphy Act and the licence fee! Let them put their staff wherever they want and if they want to move to Salford let them pay from their revenue from their DVD sales and now feature film releases,like other commercial broadcasters. Last time I posted I mentioned Hazel Blears watching this unfold helplessly. Shame that labour created this situation by failing to scrap the licence fee, The luvvies in London will no doubt be happy with this outcome, They will be arguing this for months now...you have been warned.
Good advice if you buy a new TV that is perhaps not widely known, but not a unique occurrence, but then an official body couldn't/wouldn't would it? Perhaps I'm cynical and experieced! Good Luck mediacity!

Gary, sk13 (14/11/2006 at 13:17)

Well said Brian of Chorlton, the city is now a vibrant and exciting place to be , a far cry from a few years ago. Some people will always live in the past and object to any progress
If the BBC do come it can only benefit Manchester.

Your friendly neighbourhood scouser, Manchester (14/11/2006 at 13:39)

To Brian of Chorlton: While I agree with you completely about the BBC move being excellent for the region as a whole, I would thank you not to let the success of Manchester in this case give you a big head. Referring to Liverpool as a ¿¿oebackward, insular provincial town¿¿¿ (it actually celebrates 800 years as a CITY next year) will not garner you any friends from amongst your north-west neighbours, and I¿¿TMm sure those from Stoke will feel the same!

Anthony, Accrington,Lancashire (14/11/2006 at 15:09)

the sooner the licence fee is scrapped the better! It's just a tax on your entertainment!

Tony Darlington, northwich (24/11/2006 at 19:40)

I suggest that you rename the BBC (LBC) London Broadcasting Corporation (Sod the north) because quite obviously we do not matter!!!!!!!!!

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