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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New MediaCityUK site lets you see the construction progress live! Update: not any more…
posted Fri 28th Nov, 2008 - 10:19 PM
Update: For the past few days the semi-live feed has been replaced with previously recorded footage - but it's still a big improvement.
The official MediaCityUK site has been re-vamped with a holding page that lets you see what is happening right now on the construction site. It's a welcome change from the quite boring and slightly weird previous website.
Just don't hang around for any longer than 30 seconds, or you'll just be watching the same clip over and over again! The movie is not a continuous live feed - but will re-load with new footage if you refresh the page.
The new site also links to a new MediaCityUK brochure, which looks a bit nicer than the old one, even if it has very little new information. How-Do reported earlier this week that MediaCityUK has appointed two new creative agencies to re-vamp the website and deliver some new promotional materials. So far, so good!
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MediaCityUK footbridge gets the go-ahead
posted Mon 24th Nov, 2008 - 09:50 PM | 2 comments
Remember the proposed MediaCityUK footbridge that looks like a big feather? Well I hope you liked the look of it, because it's been approved planning permission.
The 250-foot long, 32m-high bridge will cross over Manchester Ship Canal from MediaCityUK to Trafford Wharf Road. Trafford's planning development control committee hopes the bridge will help regenerate Trafford Wharfside, and expect the bridge to be a "landmark destination" in its own right.
You can see various images of the footbridge here.
(via Messenger and MEN.)
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The Congestion Charge - What does it mean for MediaCityUK?
posted Tue 18th Nov, 2008 - 03:27 AM | 2 comments
By December 11th 2008, the people of Manchester will either approve or reject a Congestion Charge - similar to the one that was introduced in London in 2003.
The Congestion Charge would apply at peak times (7.30am - 9am travelling towards Manchester, 4pm - 6.30pm travelling out), Monday to Friday.
The Charge would then be used to pay for improvements to public transport and roads throughout Greater Manchester (although the charge would only be introduced when at least 80% of these improvements are in operation - according to GMPTE).
So what does all this mean for MediaCityUK? If the Congestion Charge gets approved, we can expect the following changes affecting travel to and from MediaCityUK -
- more trams to increase passenger capacity to and from Eccles and Salford Quays/MediaCityUK
- The frequency of trams to Pomona, Exchange Quay, Salford Quays, Anchorage and Harbour City will double to every six minutes by autumn 2010
- trams every 12 minutes from Eccles to Ashton-under-Lyne and MediaCityUK to Ashton by summer 2012
- a new Quays Bus service every 20 minutes from Salford Crescent Train Station to MediaCityUK and on to Oxford Road station
- extra carriages and station improvements for Salford Central and Salford Crescent Train Stations
So far so good for MediaCityUK. But it's not all good news...
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A week after Greasley leaves MediaCityUK, NWDA Chairman becomes head of Peel Media
posted Mon 17th Nov, 2008 - 02:28 AM
Bryan Gray, the current chairman of the North West Development Agency (responsible for the sustainable economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest) has been appointed as the new chairman of Peel Media, the developers of MediaCityUK.
The NWDA has already contributed £30m to MediaCityUK, and the appointment has raised suspicions of a possible conflict of interests.
John Whittaker, UKIP MEP for the north west, said; "One has to be a little suspicious...Bryan Gray has a place on the NWDA board so he's certainly got influence there. Peel's done terribly well out of this."
Gray will continue in his role as chairman of the NWDA, and along with trying to find a replacement for Brian Greasley as MD, will be attempting to “delivering Peel Media’s vision of making MediaCityUK the largest purpose-built media community in the UK and Europe.”
You can see more details on the MEN, or read How-Do's take.
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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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