TWO BBC Scotland chiefs admitted to worried staff that a plan to transfer two of its studios to the control of the corporation in England was not the “best deal” for the Scottish-based arm of the broadcaster and that they oppose it, The National can reveal.
Mark Taylor and Jennifer Allan, who are both leading executives at the BBC in Glasgow, told employees they didn’t want the proposal to go ahead when asked about it at a meeting with employees.
Along with Steve Carson, the BBC Scotland director, they have been tasked by headquarters to develop detailed proposals to advance the plan to enable an arm of the broadcaster in London to take over key parts of the Scottish operation.
The HQ proposal would see two studios (A and B) at the corporation’s Pacific Quay base in Glasgow transferred to BBC Studioworks – a subsidiary of the broadcaster in Elstree. It also targets similar facilities run by the broadcaster in Cardiff and Belfast.
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The two Pacific Quay studios directly employ around 150 people, mostly technical staff including camera operators, vision mixers and sound engineers who work on a range of programmes such as The Nine and Reporting Scotland, as well as sports broadcasts, documentaries and light entertainment.
Bectu, the broadcasting union, is fighting the proposals which industry figures fear may lead to potentially dozens of job losses among staff in Glasgow and cause wider damage to the country’s television sector as work moves out of Scotland.
Paul McManus, negotiating officer at Bectu, told The National: “It is very significant that at a staff meeting senior executives have already decided that this proposal is not the best for BBC Scotland. It leaves the staff with no faith that management have their best interests at heart.
“There is a power struggle going on between London and Scotland and staff are caught in the cross-fire.”
It is understood that staff were told at the meeting that Project Ocean had been set up in London to investigate transferring BBC Scotland’s studios off to Studioworks after the Glasgow studios were identified as presenting a potential “commercial opportunity”.
The transfer could mean that BBC Scotland would lose a lucrative income stream as it would no longer take on any commercial work, as Studioworks would take on the responsibility.
It is also understood that under the plan, as well as losing the staff and a significant income stream from the two Pacific Quay studios, BBC Scotland would also have to pay in future for using the studios that it currently owns.
Under the BBC headquarters plan it would mean that any programme made in Scotland would have to pay a fee to Studioworks.
It is understood that the BBC’s director general Tim Davie will make the final decision on whether the plan goes ahead.
Meanwhile, a Holyrood committee wants to quiz Carson over the prospect of the takeover and has written to him and copied in Davie.
The Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee wants him to appear before them after the summer recess.
In her letter, convener Clare Adamson said: “The committee is concerned about the possible transfer of the two studios at BBC Scotland Pacific Quay to the control of BBC Studioworks within the context of the issues raised in the legacy paper on the screen sector in Scotland. In particular, the role of the BBC in occupying ‘a central role in supporting the Scottish screen industry’.
“Any loss of jobs, training and skills in the sector would also be of concern to the committee.”
Adamson went on to push for a decision to be delayed until the committee can hear evidence.
“The committee asks for a response, and for the opportunity to take evidence on this issue after our summer recess, prior to any decision being taken in relation to this matter,” she said.
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Among the programmes made in the Glasgow studios are flagship news shows Reporting Scotland and The Nine as well as network hits such as Mrs Brown’s Boys and Richard Osman’s House Of Games. In addition, the studios hire in freelance professionals and independent production companies across Scotland.
BBC Studioworks is a subsidiary of the corporation and runs the Elstree Studios which makes Eastenders.
A BBC Scotland spokesman said he would not comment on internal meetings.
“We’re currently exploring a number of options around the management of the BBC’s studio facilities in Glasgow and have been consulting with our staff as part of this – but no decisions have been taken,” he added.
“We will respond to the committee in due course.
“The BBC has recently announced plans to move more power and decision-making across the UK in order to reflect, represent and serve all parts of the country,” the spokesman continued.
“The plan will create jobs and investment in all four nations as well as strengthening our presence and support for the creative economy in Scotland.”
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