Media City Fry-Up, bumber July edition: Breakfast in Salford and yet more jobs…
posted Thu 15th Jul, 2010
If you haven't been following us on twitter or facebook (and why not?) you may have missed a busy week for MediaCityUK news.
- First off, the BBC has announced it's intention to relocate BBC Breakfast to MediaCityUK, Salford Quays. The story began as a strong rumour we picked up on twitter, followed by much speculation and generally negative responses from the national media.
The BBC moved quickly, and by Wednesday the move was officially announced. Helen Boaden, Director, BBC News, said: "BBC Breakfast is the most watched breakfast programme in the UK and loved by millions. It has a fantastic connection with audiences across the UK and we want to build on that."
Peter Salmon, director of BBC North said, "The move of Breakfast is especially symbolic as it is the first time a BBC Network News programme will come from outside London – a real vote of confidence in our new enterprise."
An attempt to create a full english Breakfast, if you like.
The move means that more than three hours a day of live BBC One output will now come from MediaCity, and around 88 roles across BBC Breakfast and operational posts are expected to relocate. It is yet to be seen how many current Breakfast staff will make the move.
You can read more details straight from the horses mouth. - Riding high on the wave of such an earth-shattering announcement, the BBC then surprised us all by announcing yet more jobs were heading to Media City, namely 43 positions from Marketing, Communications & Audiences and 75 from Future Media & Technology.
The BBC's Director of Future Media and Technology, Erik Huggers, said: "Just as Broadcasting House is associated with the rise of radio, and Television Centre with TV, I believe that MediaCity will become the BBC's centre for the internet age.
"Moving our connected TV and mobile product teams north, together with a core part of BBC Online, is very much part of realising this vision."
It was also announced that an additional two comedy shows will be commissioned by BBC North at MediaCity by 2012/13.
Sinead Greenaway, CEO at Peel Media (developers of MediaCityUK) reacted positively to this tidal wave of news - "We at Peel Media are delighted...This news is testimony to the BBC's commitment to make their new home here at MediaCityUK a success."
Again, you can read more details from the beeb itself.
How's that for a round-up? But wait, there's more! (I'll do these as one liners, I know you're busy)
- Salford Uni has announced the appointment of Jon Corner, founder of Liverpool based production house River Media, as their new MediaCityUK Director - replacing John Holland. More details here.
- Mammoth Graphics, who produce graphics for the BBC, ITV and Sky amongst others, have opened an office within The Pie Factory, MediaCityUK; their first base outside London. More details at How-Do.
- The Reverend Hayley Matthews has been named as chaplain to MediaCityUK by the Church of England. More from the BBC.
- Peter Salmon (Director, BBC North) has made it to no.84 in the Guardian's 100 most powerful people in media. Presumably after this week's announcements he'll be popping up a little higher next year.
- Peel Media is looking to fill a handful of new Technology and Studio-based roles at MediaCity - click here for the full list.
..so a busy couple of weeks overall, and still over a year to go before it's all truly up and running!
Be sure to follow our highly recommended twitter feed for all the late breaking MediaCity news...
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The Promise of MediaCity
posted Tue 16th Jun, 2009 - 09:21 PM | 5 comments
This is a guest post from journalism student Rose Brooke.
If you cast your eyes away from the cash, celebrity and pomposity of Fleet Street for a moment, there is another hotbed of media activity brewing in the North.
The reason I chose to train to be a journalist in Manchester rather than London in these times of recession and employment drought is because the media in the UK is changing. The internet has exploded the field of conventional print and broadcast and everyman journalism is rife in blogs, on YouTube and is being incorporated into news websites across the world.
London’s streets are no longer paved with gold and the modern day Dick Whittington digs out his Young Person’s Railcard and hops on a Virgin Cross Country to find his fortunes elsewhere in the UK. Manchester, the birthplace of the Guardian and home to Granada TV seems a worthy spawning ground for young journalists.
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MediaCityUK essays from the BBC: Salmon describes move as ‘part of the rebirth of the BBC’
posted Tue 26th May, 2009 - 05:24 AM
BBC North Director Peter Salmon has said the move to MediaCityUK represents "an entire new way of rewiring the BBC"..."designed to bring about a shift in the gene-pool of broadcasting" in an essay published today.
There are also new essays from Ten Alps Chief executive Alex Connock on BBC North's relationship with the wider media scene in Manchester, and from Prof. Ron Cook (University of Salford) on collaborative opportunities between MediaCityUK and the education and training sector.
Salmon's essay is the most interesting and encouraging, as it outlines an ambitious vision to "revitalise and invigorate the creative industries in the region". Salmon exhibits a promising commitment to the future of the north-west's media sector, and to the MediaCityUK project in particular - which he describes as "radical and exciting...[I am personally] committed to its success."
Alex Connock describes himself in his essay as a 'fanatical proponent' of MediaCityUK, and complains again about moaning BBC staff (although he does later admit he 'loves the BBC'). Connock is equally committed to the cause, and wants to personally help attract more venture capital to make Manchester "a finance hub for people who want to invest in the media and tech industries."
Here are the direct links to all 3 essays (pdf), to read at your leisure;
- Peter Salmon - The Northern Renaissance: a Personal View
- Alex Connock - Manchester Media Scene.
- Ron Cook - MediaCityUK
There are a number of further articles about the BBC's plans to grow production across the 'nations and regions' on the Made in the UK page.
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MediaCityUK decision time for senior BBC staff - Update: Half agree to move
posted Fri 01st May, 2009 - 10:25 PM | 2 comments
Update: 15 out of the 32 BBC controllers and senior managers in the affected departments (Sport, Children's, Learning, Future Media and Technology and Radio 5 Live) have agreed to make the move to MediaCityUK, Salford Quays in 2011.
Those who have decided not to go to Salford now face being redeployed within other departments or made redundant. (You can read more details at the Guardian.) Lower level staff will have to make a decision later in the year.
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Next Thursday is the deadline for senior BBC staff to decide whether or not to make the move to MediaCityUK, and some aren't waiting until then...
BBC Learning Controller Liz Cleaver has decided to step down later this year and not to make the move to Salford - she joins 5 Live presenter Simon Mayo on the 'thanks-but-no-thanks' list.
On the opposite side of the fence we have 5 Live drive time presenter Peter Allen, who sounds very optimistic about the MediaCity move; - "This is now and this is happening, and there's no stopping it. When you see it you realise this is how it's going to be. And it's impressive."
Allen joins fellow 5 Live-er Nicky Campbell - who was the first 'big name' to make his intentions known.
This week the director of BBC North Peter Salmon described the move to Salford Quays as a 'new adventure', and does not want staff to see it as a 'forced march'. In what is most likely an attempt to encourage staff about the move, Salmon also said he wants the BBC at MediaCity to be "more fluid" than in London, helping staff to move between departments more easily. (more details at Broadcastnow).
At a time when media companies across the North West are scaling back, commitments to the move from BBC staff could be a timely boost for the MediaCityUK project - which has yet to secure any big name tenants other than the BBC and Salford Uni. Even the BBC itself is asking if MediaCityUK will work.
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Latest MediaCityUK renders: Studio Block and Salford Uni interiors…
posted Mon 30th Mar, 2009 - 09:23 PM
Salford Uni recently posted a few new MediaCityUK renders on their flickr account.
The images include interior views of the Studio Block and Salford Uni buildings, aswell as a closer look at the Studio Block office entrance.
You can see high quality images below...
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I've just fixed the commenting system on the blog, which appears to have been malfunctioning for the past month or so. Apologies to anyone who has posted recently without any success, please do post again if you can be bothered! Jun 09, 2009 - 04:16 AM
CBBC are looking for new drama writers - if you fancy a future job at MediaCityUK check it out - http://bit.ly/10wvA0 May 21, 2009 - 01:14 AM
Not a lot of MediaCityUK news to report since the ITV bombshell, except perhaps this article from the FT about the positive impact MediaCityUK is likely to have on Salford and the surrounding areas. The article also provides a quick introduction to the local housing market - useful if you're looking at relocating to Salford. Mar 26, 2009 - 11:04 PM
Debate about the BBC's staff relocation packages continues to rumble on and on - Liz Hunt at the Telegraph says, "I can't be the only taxpayer with northern credentials who feels insulted by the implication that having to up sticks from the South East is akin to an enforced relocation to Mogadishu or Harare." (full article here). Meanwhile, Andy Spinoza at How-Do offers some relocation advice to BBC staff - "Some media people will find the value, community, and friendliness on offer in the likes of Monton and Eccles more appealing than the fancy nick-nack shops of Didsbury..." (full article here). Mar 13, 2009 - 12:22 AM
The Manyoo apartment towers in Salford Quays will be built, despite one of the developers behind it going into administration, reports the MEN. Manyoo will have 1,036 apartments over four towers that will `quite literally change the skyline of Salford Quays'. Mar 04, 2009 - 07:04 AM
Interesting article over at The Life of Wylie about the problems piling up for ITV; chief amongst them the need to make a decision about selling the Manchester site in Quay Street and moving to MediaCityUK, Salford. (via SalfordQuays.org) Feb 19, 2009 - 02:54 AM
Former journalist Aziz Rashid has been announced as the new head of BBC North West - "we have an exciting future ahead with our move to Salford Quays in 2011." (full article at the MEN) Feb 17, 2009 - 11:09 PM
The Guardian has a short article about some of the problems facing HBOS, one of which (according to the Guardian) is their £350m backing of MediaCityUK. (via SalfordQuays.org) Feb 17, 2009 - 11:00 PM
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