2 weeks ago
New BBC Director General Matt Brittin is not wasting immoderate clip connected time one, telling unit early Monday greeting that nan nation’s 100-year-old nationalist broadcaster needs to “experiment much bravely” and that he wants to “reinvent nationalist work broadcasting for nan 21st century.”
In a statement to staff, seen by Deadline, nan erstwhile Google EMEA main said “we must beryllium wherever audiences are, and research much bravely: trial ideas, study quickly and backmost what works.”
He besides swiftly addressed nan mega savings scheme he is stepping into that will spot astir 2,000 BBC unit laid off, equating to astir 10%. “I cognize alteration will not beryllium easy. Tough choices are unavoidable arsenic we make savings,” he said.
These savings comprise 1 of Brittin’s 3 main areas of focus, he wrote, which are charter renewal, editorial excellence and “increased velocity – making nan savings we must and nan choices we should, simplifying nan BBC for unit and audiences alike.”
“That intends moving pinch velocity and clarity,” he said. “Excellence astatine nan BBC has ever been founded connected great, imaginative storytelling and brilliant, independent journalism. Today it besides intends making judge we get nan correct stories successful nan correct formats connected nan correct platforms.”
Intriguingly, and disconnected nan backmost of respective large BBC scandals, he noted: “I want to make judge we are ever backing nan correct group to make decisions pinch clear accountability. We must ne'er let our work to return risks and present value to beryllium undermined by unnecessary process aliases misplaced caution.”
Met by protests
Brittin was met astatine nan beforehand of nan BBC’s New Broadcasting House HQ by a mini group of protesters holding National Union of Journalists placards, taking umbrage pinch nan layoffs successful nan BBC News division.
He is now gearing up to lead his first all-staff telephone tomorrow astatine 11 a.m. GMT (3 a.m. PT).
Meanwhile, successful a video posted connected nan BBC’s societal media that felt reflective of his past life moving for a elephantine U.S. tech firm, Brittin said that arsenic a “first clip insider” he has spent clip complete nan past fewer weeks walking astir nan state seeing “first hand” nan activity nan BBC teams put in.
He said his extremity arsenic head wide is to “reinvent nationalist work broadcasting for nan 21st century.” “What would nan pioneers of nan BBC person done if they’d had today’s exertion and scope successful their hands?,” he questioned.
The 60 2nd vid revealed nan existent BBC show Brittin is enjoying is acheronian crime thriller Mint.
When faced pinch nan large mobility astir nan BBC’s biggest show of all, Brittin said he is simply a “faithful” not a traitor.
Brittin’s statement successful full
Hello everyone,
It’s an honour to subordinate you arsenic Director-General and to beryllium asked to lead this unthinkable organisation.
In nan past fewer weeks, I’ve met teams successful each of nan 4 Nations, internationally and crossed genres and formats, to perceive and to learn. As a lifelong instrumentality of nan BBC, it’s been a typical privilege to witnesser nan world-class expertise and teamwork down nan output first-hand.
I’ve seen accumulation from Ambridge to Shetland, met legends of section radio, delivered beverage to galleries heavy successful predetermination sum and celebrated teams collecting BAFTAs by nan armful – to sanction but a few.
It has each underlined conscionable what an extraordinary, priceless plus nan BBC is for each of us. It has shaped who we are arsenic a state and really nan world sees us. It has shaped maine too. In an accelerating world of limitless choice, its trust, scope and imaginative spot are unrivalled.
I’m struck by really acold nan BBC’s effect goes beyond our ain output and shores. So galore group trained aliases inspired by nan BBC spell connected to lend brilliantly elsewhere, and I’ve seen really captious that imaginative finance is for nan UK astatine location and worldwide. If you recreation internationally, you cognize really often group share, unprompted, their emotion for and spot successful nan BBC.
Today, nan BBC has ne'er been much needed – connected nan broadside of nan assemblage arsenic their astir trusted news provider, nan cornerstone of our imaginative economy, and a unit that brings group together. I cognize we look very existent challenges, but astatine a clip of flux and uncertainty, group present and astir nan world request america to meet nan infinitesimal pinch courageousness and vision.
I’ve already seen our superb creative, editorial and method group coming together to meet nan infinitesimal each day. The BBC has proved passim its history really quickly it tin reinvent itself to service nan needs of audiences – from restructuring for World War II to repurposing during Covid to spinning up services successful conflict zones. We need, collectively, to telephone connected that consciousness of urgency now.
That intends moving pinch velocity and clarity. Excellence astatine nan BBC has ever been founded connected great, imaginative storytelling and brilliant, independent journalism. Today it besides intends making judge we get nan correct stories successful nan correct formats connected nan correct platforms.
We must beryllium wherever audiences are, and research much bravely: trial ideas, study quickly and backmost what works. Audiences will worth nan truth we are listening, innovating and moving difficult to service them better.
I cognize alteration will not beryllium easy. Tough choices are unavoidable arsenic we make savings. We should inquire ourselves, honestly: if we were inventing nan BBC today, what would we do? Then respond pinch clarity, gait and purpose.
As I get underway, my attraction will beryllium connected 3 priorities:
- The lawsuit for nan BBC – Making nan strongest imaginable statement for our early arsenic portion of nan Charter process
- Editorial excellence – Backing nan bold publicity and storytelling that specify nan BBC astatine its best
- Increased velocity – Being clear connected our priorities, making nan savings we must and nan choices we should, simplifying nan BBC for unit and audiences alike.
Editorial excellence is nan very instauration connected which nan BBC’s estimation has been built. I person asked nan Executive Committee to statesman looking astatine this immediately, moving pinch colleagues crossed nan BBC, and will beryllium appointing a Deputy to guarantee this ambition is addressed and sustained.
I want to make judge we are ever backing nan correct group to make decisions pinch clear accountability. We must ne'er let our work to return risks and present value to beryllium undermined by unnecessary process aliases misplaced caution.
My extremity is yours: a thriving BBC. Enduring nationalist work values realised pinch imaginative and editorial excellence, invention and courage. To do this we must beryllium simpler, faster and much connected pinch audiences than ever. I look guardant to gathering much of you complete nan coming weeks, and to getting started together.
Thanks for making maine truthful invited already, and please subordinate maine for my first all‑staff telephone tomorrow astatine 11.00 BST.
Matt
