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Media: Behind the Hype - Will Thompson's BBC really be less commercial?(British Broadcasting Corp.'s new director general Mark Thompson )
The new DG won't chuck the baby out with the bath water, as Pippa Considine reports.
Mark Thompson is a well-known believer in the true spirit of public broadcasting. But he's also the new director-general of a BBC that needs money. His speech to BBC staff last week was heavy on public value as a guiding ethos but, unsurprisingly, he gave no hint at throwing away prosperous commercial branches of the BBC empire.
Agencies and media owners don't seem to think that too much of what's fundamental and successful at the BBC will change - even the more controversial, money-making arms - despite Thompson's credibility as a public-service man.
'I think that Mark learned at Channel 4 that the BBC has significant commercial advantages that it is utilising to full benefit,' Andy Barnes, Channel 4's sales director, says. He finds it unlikely that Thompson will want to ditch any of those commercial advantages.
Mark Jarvis, Carat's head of media, says: 'He's not about to chuck out the baby with the bath water.' Jarvis notes that Thompson's first steps at the BBC look like a classic business school treatment.
The new director-general is going to need to play a professional managerial hand. With the BBC in debt and with charter renewal looming at the end of 2006, he certainly isn't going to be dawdling at too many late lunches.
'We're going to have to change the BBC more rapidly and radically over the next three to five years than at any point in its history,' he says.
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...different light. They claim Thompson, 46, who worked at the BBC for more than 20 years before...former director of TV at the BBC, Thompson provided much of the thinking...a TV. Fortunately for the BBC, Thompson is an effective lobbyist who...
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- Magazine article from: Campaign April 23, 2004 700+ words
...director-general of the BBC. Thompson, a former head of television at the BBC, was seen by many as the...general, and Jana Bennett, the BBC's head of TV, are seen...Channel 4's annual results, Thompson said he was committed to staying...
- MEDIA BRIEF: Mark Thompson rules himself out of contest for director-general of...
- Magazine article from: Marketing February 26, 2004 700+ words
Channel 4 chief executive Mark Thompson has ruled himself out of the contest to become the next director-general of the BBC. Thompson said he wanted to take his reforms at Channel 4 further.
- Follow Thompson's lead, unions tell BBC bosses.
- News wire article from: Europe Intelligence Wire July 12, 2005 700+ words
...unions have called on BBC executive board members...director general Mark Thompson's lead and hand...Bectu's senior BBC official, said...s good that Mark Thompson has waived his bonus...in charge of the BBC. Mr Thompson received AGBP459...
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- News wire article from: Europe Intelligence Wire June 1, 2005 700+ words
...would have meant the BBC could never have put Mark Thompson forward again as a...7pm meeting with Mr Thompson, a BBC negotiating team and...was waiting at the BBC World Service HQ in...on the Strand. Mr Thompson and the three union...
- BBC's Thompson puts emphasis on laughs.(World News)(British Broadcasting...
- Magazine article from: Daily Variety Clarke, Steve August 30, 2004 700+ words
...policy shift, the BBC's new director general, Mark Thompson, has declared...bedrock of the BBC's remit and...a pubcaster. Thompson thinks differently...value, too." Thompson also indicated...rivals in the BBC's international...
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- News wire article from: Europe Intelligence Wire July 1, 2009 700+ words
...Hunt, has argued that the BBC director general, Mark Thompson, is paid too much (having...the British people loved the BBC and, although no-one likes...growing opposition to the way the BBC operates. Thompson cannot control the agenda set...
- C4 exec stays true: Thompson says he'd reject offer from BBC.(World News)
- Magazine article from: Daily Variety Clarke, Steve April 21, 2004 700+ words
...director general at the BBC appeared to be wide...Channel 4 topper Mark Thompson, previously Dyke...approach from the BBC. I have a job I...have been eyeing Thompson. Thompson declined...might not get at the BBC." At 46, Thompson is young enough...
- Careers: What it's really like inside - The BBC.(Mark Thompson is...
- Magazine article from: Marketing September 24, 2008 700+ words
...CBBC, Cbeebies, BBC Sport, BBC News, BBC iPlayer, Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio 5 Live, BBC Asian Network. - Mark Thompson is director-general; Helen Kellie is the BBC's top marketer
- Thompson welcomed back to BBC by news executives.
- News wire article from: Europe Intelligence Wire May 27, 2004 700+ words
...chief of the corporation. Thompson, a former BBC Nine O?clock News and...overwhelming mood within BBC News was that Thompson?s return was a ?positive...enormously.? Both agreed that Thompson?s sojourn outside of the BBC, as chief executive of...