BBC cuts 'a very sensible move' says media analyst
BBC cuts 'a very sensible move' says media analystAs BBC director general Mark Thompson gets set to undertake a strategic review which could see its online team cut by half and budgets slashed by nearly a quarter, one media analyst has said that he believes this will be good news for commercial media.
Paul Richards, media analyst for independent investment banking and broking Group Numis Securities said that the company’s potential plans to slim down its online and commercial operations was “probably a very sensible move.”
Other areas which will be considered as part of the review will be the future of radio stations BBC 6Music and the Asian Network, while sports rights may also be capped at 8.5% of the license fee.
BBC Magazines, which publishes the Radio Times, may also be sold off, while the number of films and TV show’s bought from overseas may also be cut back by 25%.
Richards continued to say that there had been a clear view from commercial players in the market that the BBC had overstepped its remit and people within the industry would be pleased to see the BBC taking ‘a step back’.
“Some might argue that it hasn’t gone far enough while others will believe that it is a step in the right direction,” he added.
Media outlets have already been up in arms recently following the BBC’s plans to roll out mobile phone applications to deliver its content with newspaper publishers under the belief that this will further harm their sales figures with the delivery of free national and regional news to phone handsets.
“There is a crossroads with the commercial sector, such as with national newspapers, with the launch of the iPad and Kindle’s coming into the UK, we’ve got a pivotal moment in terms of charging for online content and obviously the BBC is the country’s biggest online newspaper,” continued Richards.
“The BBC is trying to make sure that they don’t disadvantage the commercial players in that market which is why they want to link to newspaper sites so that newspapers can start better monetising their content.”
The outcome of the review will be delivered by April.
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Comments
Some of the cuts may benefit commercial media, but I don't see how axing 6Music would do that. 6Music's audience will have nowhere to go if the station is closed - there isn't a commercial rival that could serve them.
I agree - 6music is the only station which i listen to, as its so unique and serves up such a great ecclectic mix.
If this was to be axed - it would be a grave tragedy for most digital folk as its usually the highlight of the day listening to it...:)
I doubt anyone really listens to 6 in depth. it's just a nice, trendy thing to say over your bottle of Prosecco. Most of it sucks. I'm looking forward to the obligatory Facebook page and twitter shi*e support groups being set up. The only decent think was Smerch and he left moons ago.
6 music would be decent if it had a daytime playlist of more than 5 songs.
"I doubt anyone really listens to 6 in depth. it's just a nice, trendy thing to say over your bottle of Prosecco. Most of it sucks. I'm looking forward to the obligatory Facebook page and twitter shi*e support groups being set up. The only decent think was Smerch and he left moons ago."
I listen to 6 music in depth, I DOUBT you know what your talking about.
I'll be fairly gutted if 6Music goes. Only just started listening to it but it's refreshing to listen to a station at work which plays rave and 80s hip hop.
If 6Music goes, it will be an act of cultural vandalism. Whose stupid idea was this?
6 music was good until it went all yoof and employed that tit George Lamb. Then it became '6 shout catchphrases in a mockney accent.'
There's a lot of folk talking a lot of sheet about 6 Music. It is the only music station that knows its erse from its elbow and, yes, Anonymous at 14:30 AND 15:05, I have set up a Facebook Group. Perhaps you'd like to join. We can chat about it over a Prosecco.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4880116&id=602359304#!/group.p...
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