BIGGEST BROADCASTING CON?

I’m starting to have doubts over the authenticity/validity of the cost-cutting measures just announced by the BBC. The interviews given by Thompson and the Chairman of the BBC trust seemed to me sound as though they are making up things as they go along, and are almost inviting people to stop the closure of the two digital stations. I also wondered why these two digital channels are earmarked for closure when one of them (6 Music) represents a drop in the ocean in cost terms, and the other (The Asian Network) is so politically and socially sensitive.

Together they add up to a bag of beans relative to the huge costs of running other BBC terrestrial radio stations like Radio 1 and 2, and the substantial target annual saving of £600 million. In addition, combining online and DAB traffic, 6 Music is currently one of the largest digital stations. With the BBC and Digital lobby pushing to complete radio switchover by 2014, why on earth would the BBC want to close two relatively successful digital stations? I have begun to listen to 6 Music for the first time and while its presenters seem pretty competent, playlists are generally very poor. But this is a problem which can easily and cheaply be fixed, while overall costs could be decreased substantially. It just doesn’t add up.

BUT, WHAT IF…

The real intention is not to close either, but through the massive nationwide publicity generated to actually at least double listener figures in very quick time. The powers-that-be have to go through a three-month consultative period which takes the final decision past the General Election period, by which time the last thing on politicians’ minds will be BBC budgets. During this three-month period a substantial public groundswell of opposition (which has already started in earnest) to the closures is inevitable, and as stated by the Trust Chairman, if this happens Mr Thompson will have to “go back to the drawing board.” This could be Thompson’s desired and preferred outcome.

And while all this is going on, the big spending BBC stations will slip into the dark shade of political, media and public awareness. I counted six people working on the Chris Moyles show this morning, which must mean a total annual wage bill alone for this show alone amounting to well over £1 million - many times more than the most popular commercial programming costs. As the listening traffic inevitably builds, more DAB radios will be sold, and the prospect of total digital switchover looks inevitable, and could even be brought forward. This would bring into close proximity to the next round of Licence Fee negotiations when the BBC could put forward a digital argument for increasing its cost to the public.

The claimed £600 million savings had not been publicly detailed, and could also be fiction. The proposed closure of 25% of online presence could also indicate a higher level of presence for future online broadcast services, and enhanced accommodation for the increased listener traffic generated.

It could be the globe’s latest rock ‘n’ roll swindle!

Tone’s Last Word