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Mark Thompson: happy to escape BBC woes? Mark Thompson: happy to escape BBC woes?
(about 1 hour later)
Mark Thompson's resignation announcement confirms the worst kept secret in British television; perhaps the only surprise is that the director general is leaving the BBC in the autumn. Except Thompson's friends insist that he always intended to go at about that time, telling Lord Patten the moment the Tory peer arrived as chairman last year that he would be on his way after the Olympics. The only difficulty has been getting Thompson to the point where he was prepared to concede in private that he was going (he got there in January) and going public with it (which is where we got to on Monday).Mark Thompson's resignation announcement confirms the worst kept secret in British television; perhaps the only surprise is that the director general is leaving the BBC in the autumn. Except Thompson's friends insist that he always intended to go at about that time, telling Lord Patten the moment the Tory peer arrived as chairman last year that he would be on his way after the Olympics. The only difficulty has been getting Thompson to the point where he was prepared to concede in private that he was going (he got there in January) and going public with it (which is where we got to on Monday).
If anything, Thompson shows signs of being demob happy now the announcement is finally out in the open. It has not been the easiest of eight years – with the "Sachsgate" and phone-in scandals threatening to overwhelm a corporation under threat from an emerging Murdoch/Conservative alliance.If anything, Thompson shows signs of being demob happy now the announcement is finally out in the open. It has not been the easiest of eight years – with the "Sachsgate" and phone-in scandals threatening to overwhelm a corporation under threat from an emerging Murdoch/Conservative alliance.
However, that was stopped in its tracks by the risky but correct decision to freeze the licence fee. After the sudden collapse of Murdoch influenc, the BBC's position as national broadcaster has never looked more secure at any time in the last decade. But it is not surprising if Thompson will be grateful to get away from the pressure. However, that was stopped in its tracks by the risky but correct decision to freeze the licence fee. After the sudden collapse of Murdoch influence, the BBC's position as national broadcaster has never looked more secure at any time in the last decade. But it is not surprising if Thompson will be grateful to get away from the pressure.
On the small screen, meanwhile, the BBC seems to be as good as ever – just look at Call the Midwife, Frozen Planet or Rev – even if there is less sport. On the computer screen, meanwhile, the BBC has been able to lead the way with the iPlayer; the latest talk around Project Barcelona, in which viewers will be able to download programmes for a fee after they have been transmitted promises to be as revolutionary. Most of the problems are behind the scenes, where the bureaucracy has still to be controlled and producer morale is said to be low in the face of the latest "Delivering Quality First" cuts.On the small screen, meanwhile, the BBC seems to be as good as ever – just look at Call the Midwife, Frozen Planet or Rev – even if there is less sport. On the computer screen, meanwhile, the BBC has been able to lead the way with the iPlayer; the latest talk around Project Barcelona, in which viewers will be able to download programmes for a fee after they have been transmitted promises to be as revolutionary. Most of the problems are behind the scenes, where the bureaucracy has still to be controlled and producer morale is said to be low in the face of the latest "Delivering Quality First" cuts.
The hard part will be trying to find a quality successor on the money Patten wants to offer, which is much less than Thompson's total remuneration of 671,000 in the year to the end of March 2011. Some suggest that the roles of director general and editor-in-chief should be split, except the BBC charter does not allow for that and the previous experience of dual control under Michael Checkland and John Birt wasn't happy. There is not a clear cut candidate either, as Thompson was after Greg Dyke's departure. The hard part will be trying to find a quality successor on the money Patten wants to offer, which is much less than Thompson's total remuneration of £671,000 in the year to the end of March 2011. Some suggest that the roles of director general and editor-in-chief should be split, except the BBC charter does not allow for that and the previous experience of dual control under Michael Checkland and John Birt wasn't happy. There is not a clear cut candidate either, as Thompson was after Greg Dyke's departure.
Getting the right successor is the hardest task that Patten will have to manage. Thompson may not have always been the most popular director general, but he will be a tough act to follow.Getting the right successor is the hardest task that Patten will have to manage. Thompson may not have always been the most popular director general, but he will be a tough act to follow.