Grade issues major mandate for Beeb
Exec urges BBC to take more creative risks
|
Grade, launching the annual report and accounts for 2005-06, said that although cost savings of £105 million ($189 million) had been met, the pressure for cuts was still on.
"These savings will release the funds that are necessary to address audience expectations of quality content," he said. "But achieving the savings will require transformational change in ways of working, and not just the reduction in head count that is already being implemented."
The report showed the pubcaster had cut 2,523 jobs in the past year and has shed 4,000 posts since April 1, 2004.
"Next year's targets are substantial, with more than 2,000 staff scheduled to leave the BBC," finance director Zarin Patel said.
Significantly, Patel said the license fee, levied on all TV homes, raised more than $5.4 billion for the first time due to more efficient collection, plus fewer evasions. Also, commercial arm BBC Worldwide returned more coin after delivering $160.2 million in profits.
Grade highlighted parts of the BBC's overall perf that he said had improved, including airing fewer repeats in primetime on BBC1-- down from 9.7% to 8.9% but still short of the 5% target.
He urged the BBC to take more creative risks, praising tyke digital webs CBeebies and CBBC, for axing popular shows to make room for new ideas.
But he warned that further work was needed.
Director general Mark Thompson singled out "Bleak House," "Doctor Who," "Strictly Come Dancing" -- made for the U.S. as "Dancing With the Stars" -- "The Apprentice" and the Martin Scorsese-helmed Dylan epic "No Direction Home" for praise.
