Shortwave cuts response
World Service management have responded to criticism over shortwave cuts.
Responding to criticism from listeners in the U.S.A. and Asia over the recent dropping of shortwave coverage, Mark Byford, Director, World Service, said he believed money should be used in the most effective way.
Mark was addressing the broadcasting unions BECTU and the NUJ at a management/union liaison meeting held at Bush House on 5 July 2001.
The FM output had a limited focus in news and current affairs and the Internet had problems with mobility. Was it too early to move? The World Service would still be available in high quality sound. Mark said we had to do more in the coming year to highlight how the savings would be utilised to reinvest in FM e.g. for African conurbations.
In every market, audience listening was changing but changes had to be made with care. It was not about pulling out of shortwave across the world because World Service was investing in shortwave transmission around the world where it remained a primary delivery method.
Was it too early? Mark said he took no comfort from the criticism but the U.S. and Asia could still hear the World Service. He respected the question but he had to try and make judgements in good faith for the whole of World Service.
Further issue were also discussed at the meeting:
Contracts
76 per cent of World Service broadcast staff were now on continuing contracts. Management wanted to maintain this level.Property strategy
Debbie Ransome and Elizabeth Wright were members of the group preparing for the move of World Service from Bush House to Broadcasting House. Plans had to be submitted by Autumn to gain planning permission. Information on the detail was available on Gateway. Mark Byford would be giving a presentation on 23rd July. He told the meeting that the move would go ahead at the end of 2006- beginning of 2007. Output areas would be in the main BH building. Elizabeth added that questions of public access needed to be addressed following the bomb at TVC. A property forum would be established in due course to energise wider opinions from staff.Go Digital
Benny Ammar and Dave Cooke had given a briefing to union members. Although the Board of Governors and the FCO had given approval, the size of the project meant that Treasury approval was needed. The contract had been agreed and there had been close contact with the English Regions, Helsinki, Tunbridge Wells, Cardiff and Sheffield over Radioman and ENPS integration.Subject to final approval, the project could start on 23rd July and would be rolled out from April to September 2003.
Studio savings
Linda Waspe Page, Senior Operating Manager, RPR and Dave Cooke, Premises Manager, explained that, five years ago, the World Service had given a commitment for 15 per cent savings. This included RPR technical and premises teams. The latest change meant that efficiency in studio utilisation would improve and there would be a move towards self-ops.A package of proposals from the ROMs and Regional Heads would include the closure of three studios (C22, S1 and S16) and a reduction in Studio Manager shifts. The effect on output would be minimised by working with programme makers and a programme of training and mentoring. Europe and Africa and the Middle East were mostly affected. There would be a reduction in the number of SMs by seven but there would be no redundancies. There would be savings on the use of casuals and overtime.