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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Major new Media Festival planned for Manchester
posted Thu 08th May, 2008 - 01:19 AM
A new annual media festival will be held in Manchester for the first time this November, the Manchester Evening News reports. The Festival is being organised by Emap Communications, publishers of the television and radio industry news magazine Broadcast.
Peter Bazalgette, head of Big Brother maker Endemol, the media festival's chairman, said: "The Media Festival brings together, for the first time; TV, film, music, gaming and social networking - in fact, everyone who is reconfiguring their business model for the digital age. It's now widely accepted we can all learn from each other - the event promises to be hugely instructive."
The festival advisory board includes some of the biggest names in media, including Danny Cohen, controller of BBC Three; Alex Connock, chief executive of Ten Alps; and Brian Greasley, managing director of Mediacity UK.
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Radio 5 Live controller says MediaCity move is all or nothing
posted Mon 28th Apr, 2008 - 11:40 PM
The Guardian has an in-depth interview with the new controller of BBC Radio 5 Live, Adrian van Klaveren. Radio 5 Live is one of five BBC departments making the move to Salford Quays, and Van Klaveren says he is looking forward to the challenge of the move, but he admits not all of his staff will share his excitement.
"Not everybody's going to want to come," says the new controller. "We have got to be realistic, that won't be the case. But I think enough will want to come for us to be able to make a success of it." Van Klaveren describes Five Live's move to the mediacity:uk development as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to create an "even better radio station".
You can read the entire article here.
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Greasley planning venture fund to attract the next Facebook or YouTube
posted Wed 12th Mar, 2008 - 04:27 AM | 1 comment
PropertyWeek.com has a great article about Brian Greasley's plans to launch a venture fund that will invest in Media City’s future tenants. There are not many details as yet, but the focus seems to be on attracting and supporting companies that will really put mediacity:uk on the map;
"The fund is still in the early stages of planning, and its size and length have yet to be finalised. Its purpose, however, will be to back Media City’s companies and help them create the next Facebook or YouTube."
Greasley also repeats his claims that 'Media City is our Silicon Valley', and discusses the scale of the task he now faces in trying to attract the brighest and best media companies to Salford Quays within the next few years. You can see the full article here.
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Metrolink for MediaCity moves closer
posted Wed 12th Mar, 2008 - 04:09 AM
People in Salford will be able to find out more about plans for a new Metrolink service to mediacity:uk next week.
Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) is holding a special two day event at The Lowry in Salford Quays on Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 March. 3,000 questionnaires have also been posted to local residents and businesses as part of a six week consultation.
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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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