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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Reader’s Poll: What’s your interest in MediaCityUK?
posted Thu 26th Mar, 2009 - 10:22 PM | 5 comments
Why are you interested in MediaCityUK?
This blog has existed for a year now, and has built up a steady flow of visitors who keep coming back for more. So what's your interest in MediaCityUK?
Are you a member of the relocating BBC staff? Are you a budding tech entrepreneur? Are you toying with the idea of starting a coffee shop at MediaCityUK? or do you just like tall buildings? (MediaCityUK will host the 6th tallest building in Manchester when finished!)
Please vote and leave a comment telling us a little bit about yourself/your company... (you can tick as many answers as apply - or write your own under 'other')
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ITV cancels MediaCityUK move, Salford Uni staff protest job losses
posted Thu 12th Mar, 2009 - 10:56 PM
ITV have pulled out of the long expected move to MediaCityUK, Salford Quays - and will be staying in their existing Manchester site for the foreseeable future.
ITV have blamed MediaCityUK (or rather the Peel Group) for the breakdown in talks, after Peel apparently slashed incentives - ITV chief operating officer John Cresswell said, "The Peel Group has dramatically scaled back its financial commitment to the ITV element of the project, and as a result we will be remaining at Quay Street..."
Just last week it looked as though ITV's move to Salford Quays was going to get the go ahead, although it was not expected to be made public until much later in the year. The announcement will likely come as a disappointment to those who saw the ITV move as a done deal, and perhaps just one of many future 'big name' relocations. You can see more details at the MEN.
In other MediaCityUK news, a demonstration is to be held tonight (12th March 09) protesting the loss of 150 jobs at Salford Uni. The local independent magazine The Salford Star accuses Salford University of cutting these jobs to help finance their new base at MediaCityUK, which requires "significant upfront investment" from the University (around £40million). You can read more at The Salford Star.
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MediaCityUK round-up: ITV move in doubt, plus the incredible shrinking building… (Updated)
posted Wed 04th Mar, 2009 - 05:47 AM
Even MediaCityUK can't escape the effects of a worldwide recession. Last month we heard about cutbacks to the BBC's staff relocation scheme, and this month the economic climate continues to have an impact on MediaCityUK's progress;
- The long-expected move of ITV to Trafford Wharf (opposite MediaCityUK) has been thrown into doubt - as Chairman Michael Grade prepares to announce significant redundancies as a result of falling profits. ITV says they are continuing to evaluate their options, but as Crain's Editor Steve Brauner points out, a major relocation and a new building project is probably not so tempting given ITV's current financial situation. (Update #2: - see below).
- Salford University's building at MediaCityUK has been scaled back, from 18 to 13 storeys. (photos after the jump). No official word on why, although it's presumed to be a financially motivated decision. (Update: MediaCityUK responds - see below).
- It's not all doom on gloom at Salford Quays however - as visitors to the Lowry Outlet Mall jumped 14 percent over half term, with overall sales up 13 percent. The Mall is currently 'pondering it's future' with regards to MediaCityUK - and is undertaking a research project to find out what kinds of stores would appeal to BBC staff moving from London. (...what's wrong with 'Bags etc.' and 'Colony Candles'?)
That's all for now - progress on the site appears to be moving ahead faster than ever - you can see all the latest photos in the MediaCityUK photostream on flickr.
Update: MediaCityUK has responded to the Salford Uni building changes, pointing out that space across MediaCityUK is actually being increased, rather than decreased.
Ed Burrows, Property Director at Peel Media, said: “The amendments we have submitted would enable us to offer a much more flexible, relevant proposition to prospective tenants."
‘’We have made two planning applications to vary the volume of space available for new businesses in the approved MediaCityUK scheme, one of which takes 75,000 sq ft out of building B4 and the other adds 90,000 sq ft of office space in the MediaCityUK Studio Block. As well as representing a net increase in the amount of space available, this arrangement means we can accommodate more businesses right at the heart of the studios. Clearly this offers a major benefit to the many firms which provide supplies and services in this area, especially independents. It is just a part of our ongoing design development process in response to feedback received from the industry and highlights our commitment to ensuring that MediaCityUK can cater for a diverse range of businesses across the creative and digital sector."
Update #2: Following the announcement earlier this week, it now looks like ITV will eventually move to MediaCityUK - but a final decision is not expected until July '09. ITV chief operating officer John Cresswell said, "We're in deep discussion with MediaCity and it's something that maybe we'll be able to announce. The key thing in this is protecting Coronation Street, which is the most valuable programme on British television. So we're not going to rush into a decision." You can read more at the MEN.
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BBC makes changes to staff relocation plan, now ‘fair but affordable’ (Updated)
posted Thu 19th Feb, 2009 - 02:23 AM
The BBC's review into the relocation package for staff moving to MediaCityUK has now been carried out, and it looks like the current economic climate has had an effect.
The advance staff can claim before selling their London home has been cut from 95 to 85 per cent of the value of the property. There is also a new payment plan of up to £1,900 a month - intended to help staff cover living and travel costs if they need to delay their relocation to Salford for some reason.
The BBC said, "We should not expect staff to meet all the costs of moving themselves and clearly the financial support must be sufficient to encourage trained and experienced staff to make the move. Equally, we must be able to justify any relocation policy to the general public in a difficult economic climate."
You can read through the details at the MEN or Crain's.
No details yet about a change to the £3,000 for carpets and curtains...
Update: The Taxpayers Alliance are still unhappy about the package - despite the changes; "In this climate, this strategy is wrong. People are struggling in the economic downturn and no further burden should be put on them."
Chris Brown, president of the National Association of Estate Agents, described the deal as "very generous in the current economic climate".
You can read more details at the Daily Mail.
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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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