About the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ FeedThis blogΒ explains what the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ does and how it works. We link to some other blogs and online spaces inside and outside the corporation.Β The blog is edited by Alastair Smith and Matt Seel.2010-10-21T10:58:45+00:00Zend_Feed_Writer/blogs/aboutthebbc2010-10-21T10:58:45+00:002010-10-21T10:58:45+00:00/blogs/aboutthebbc/entries/98bec88b-cf6a-3369-826a-0a6019e3fb24<div class="component prose">
<p>Yesterday the Chancellor George Osborne unveiled details of the Spending Review in the House of Commons. Sir Michael Lyons, Chairman of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trust responded to the announcement of a new licence fee settlement in a <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/news/press_releases/october/licence_fee_settlement.shtml">statement that was published on the Trust website</a>. In an <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00vcpqm">interview on Radio 4's The Media Show</a>, Sir Michael told Steve Hewlett that the Foreign Office would still have a say over the scale of World Service operations, even though it would no longer fund them and added "the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has complete editorial freedom in this." <br><br>In response to the announcements that the licence fee will be frozen for six years, the corporation's budget cut by 16% and made to fund services including Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service and the Welsh-language TV channel, S4C, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Director General, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/oct/20/mark-thompson-email-spending-review">Mark Thompson told Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ staff in an email</a> that "This is a realistic deal in exceptional circumstances securing a strong independent Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ for the next six years." <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/oct/20/bbc-licence-fee-spending-review">The Guardian reports</a> that Peter Salmon, Director of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ North said it's "an exceptional settlement and it's going to be difficult for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ but it's difficult for everyone in the whole UK economy." In a report by The Independent, former Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw is quoted as saying that the changes are an '<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/bbc-freeze-on-licence-fee-is-an-act-of-cultural-vandalism-2112207.html">act of cultural and political vandalism</a>.' <br><br><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11581346">A Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News Wales story</a> reports that S4C plans to launch a judicial review of the decision to transfer responsibility for its funding to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, the chairman John Walter Jones said it was "effectively" a merger and would be "disastrous" for viewers. But Mark Thompson said the arrangement would help safeguard Welsh language broadcasting and broadcasting minister Ed Vaizey said the deal gave S4C "a fantastic future" and that the channel might be able to save on administration and take advantage of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's "expertise".<br><br><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/8077486/The-Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ-has-good-reasons-to-celebrate.html">Today in the Telegraph</a>, Neil Midgley argues that the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has "good reasons to celebrate (having) secured the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's income for a full six years and effectively escaped from political interference". <a href="http://www.beehivecity.com/politics/bbc-versus-conservatives-inside-the-battle-of-the-licence-fee/">Dan Sabbagh on Beehive City concludes</a> that "there are results for Thompson and Lyons too. The Trust is still in charge as before. There is no political requirement on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ to cut stars' pay. And, above all, the licence fee funding model is securely in place until 2017".<br><br>You can read more stories about how the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is effected by the Spending Review in the <a href="http://www.delicious.com/aboutthebbc">About the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ bookmarks</a>.</p>
<p><em>Laura Murray is the Editor of the About the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Blog</em></p>
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2010-10-20T13:09:12+00:002010-10-20T13:09:12+00:00/blogs/aboutthebbc/entries/536dd57d-51aa-3a4b-bef2-fb31c6ef1a90<div class="component prose">
<p>"This is a tough settlement, but it's also a settlement that delivers certainty and stability for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and licence fee payers through to 2016/17. It reflects the centrality of the licence fee in securing and safeguarding public service broadcasting. We recognise the importance of securing such a settlement at such an unprecedented time".</p>
<p><em>Sir Michael Lyons, Chairman of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trust</em></p>
<p>Today Chancellor George Osborne unveiled details of the Spending Review in the House of Commons. Above is a quote taken from a statement from the Chairman of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trusts in response to the announcement of a new licence fee settlement.</p>
<p>You can read the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/news/press_releases/october/licence_fee_settlement.shtml">Chairman's statement in full on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trust website</a>.</p>
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2010-09-02T16:24:05+00:002010-09-02T16:24:05+00:00/blogs/aboutthebbc/entries/f7718620-e950-3eb9-aa20-33fa1e5257a3<div class="component prose">
Next week and running through with a second push in
early October, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ will broadcast a season of programming and
content across its TV, radio and online journalism output examining the
impending cuts to public sector spending. This is set in the context
that the Government will be making its major announcement on the
Spending Review on October 20th. During the recent General Election campaign one of our main jobs at the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ was to act as a trusted guide
explaining an often very complex set of issues. The focus for all our
editorial content around the Election was "Making it Clear". This was
not just a title - it was a mission statement for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's election
campaign coverage. So, too, will it now be for our coverage in the run
up to the Spending Review announcement.<br><p>During critical times such as now, for the United
Kingdom, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has an important role to play to clarify the issues for
our audiences - to help them make sense of different ideas and points
of view. The Spending Review is one of those times and our aim is to
provide insightful, objective programmes and expert analysis to help
people understand the context and the potential options. We'll look at
where and at what level the cuts may be made and why they are happening
now, ask what the key issues are, how the Government is dealing with
them and what the implications of the cuts could be.</p>
<p>At the heart of next week's programming are twelve
major regional television debates across the English regions being
broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One on Thursday 9th September at 10.35 pm. The audience
will include politicians, public sector workers, business leaders and
members of the public. This is a good example of the unique ability of
the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's regional and local services to connect with their audiences
and engage them in a subject that is likely to have a direct effect on
their lives. The debates will examine the potential impact of the
spending review in their regions, exploring the decisions that local
councils will be faced with and how those decisions might impact on
jobs, services and local businesses. They will use as a starting point
the results of a study commissioned by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's English regions which
brings together, for the first time, a range of different factors that
determine how vulnerable a particular area is to economic impacts such
as public sector cuts. The debates will be followed up on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Local
Radio the following morning. </p>
<p>As well as the regional debates and survey next week,
there will also be widespread coverage across the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's main network
news programmes for the whole UK including a special focus through the
forthcoming party conference season. Nick Robinson will be travelling
around the country to find out what are the key issues on people's minds
about the Spending Review. Newsnight will be offering its own special
reportage and debate and in the following week the Today programme looks
at the Spending Review issues through the lens of two constituencies in
Sheffield.</p>
<p>Launching on Saturday we have a special website
featuring the latest news on the Spending Review, Q&A's from our key
correspondents and lots more rich content and analysis to sit alongside
our radio and TV programmes. Click on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/spendingreview">www.bbc.co.uk/spendingreview</a>.
Moving into early October there will further debates broadcast in
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and our specialist correspondents
will look at the issues sector by sector. On the day that the Government
announces full details of the cuts on October 20th Andrew Neil will
present a programme dedicated to the Spending Review and there will be
extended reports and analysis in our main news programmes.</p>
<p>This kind of comprehensive programming, providing real
public service is what the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is here to do and we will continue to
follow the story throughout the autumn. We hope it will help our
audiences understand the full context of the Spending Review and what it
may mean for them.</p>
<i>Mark Byford is Deputy Director General and Head of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Journalism</i>
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