Thompson Outlines BBC’s Future In Opening Speech
Mark Thompson has begun his first day as director general of the BBC by announcing a raft of internal reviews and cost-cutting measures in the run up to the Corporation’s charter review in 2006.
The broadcasting chief stated that there would be reviews into the BBC’s commercial businesses, production and commissioning, as well as an investigation into how efficiency and control of costs can be achieved through internal measures.
Thompson stated: “We are going into this with a genuinely open mind but these are questions which are not going to go away. If we did not examine them thoroughly ourselves, others would do it for us.”
The former Channel 4 boss also outlined themes that will be present in the BBC’s contribution to the debate over charter renewal, due to be published as a ‘manifesto for the future’ next week. He stated that the Corporation would play a larger role in building public value, creating a more open, responsive, agile BBC and always putting audiences first.
Outlining the first changes under his leadership, Thompson announced the creation of three new boards covering the BBC’s main activities that would streamline decision making. The three boards will cover the Corporation’s creative, journalistic and commercial-orientated activities.
The boards will be headed by Mark Thompson, deputy director general Mark Byford and finance director John Smith respectively. An executive board will also be created on which the heads of the three boards will sit alongside other BBC department heads.
Thompson explained: “The new structure remains flat. But the new executive board will be a real decision-making body with a strong sense of collective responsibility and accountability. I believe it is going to take decisions more quickly and will be more radical where necessary.”
With charter review fast approaching and increasing calls for changes to the BBC’s funding, Thompson was eager to set out a reduced spending plan, announcing several reviews of spending. He said: “As we are now in debt we need to keep a very careful control on cash – we cannot risk exceeding our statutory borrowing limit.”
He added: “The financial picture is tight. Every bit of licence fee has been allocated to the end of the current charter – and this year the BBC is spending more than its income. That was planned but nonetheless it’s something to keep an eye on.”
Thompson takes up his position with the BBC after being released early from his contract with Channel 4. The broadcast chief had been due to serve out a six month notice period at Channel 4 before joining the BBC in November but was released early after the Corporation agreed to cover any costs incurred by Channel 4 in the search for a new chief executive (see Channel 4 Releases Thompson To Join BBC Early).
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