Good news?

[MickyD]

There's been an announcement that the BBC will increase the arts budget by 20%:

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/oct/06/tony-hall-pledge-bbc-arts-coverage

...there are some interesting comments at the end of the article from readers on the degeneration of R3.

[VodkaDilc]

The headline caught my eye when I skimmed through the paper this morning - but, on further reading I guessed that it won't amount to much. Perhaps I'm cynical.

[DracoM]

Crikey, some of the comments are REALLY getting stuck in to R3!! Just dipped in.

[french frank]

The story, in its various forms, is being described elsewhere on the forum.

Don't quite understand:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24417410

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/bbc-to-beef-up-its-arts-coverage-8861360.html

I thought I saw the figure of £20m, now it seems to be 20%. But according to the Ofcom figure, they only spent £44m on the arts last year. That makes about £9m more.

I wonder if Lord Hall knows that under Tim Davie's Directorship of BBC Radio, £10.8m was pumped into Radio 2's budget between 2008 and 2011 (service budget up from £37.5m to £48.3m).

Has anyone spotted any precise figures in today's story?

[french frank]

Has anyone spotted any precise figures in today's story?

"A spokeswoman for the BBC declined to comment on the exact amount of additional funding for the arts programmes."

[MickyD]

Apologies, ff, for starting another thread on the same subject - I did actually look quite carefully in the other headings to see if anyone else had already mentioned it - but obviously not carefully enough!

[french frank]

Apologies, ff, for starting another thread on the same subject - I did actually look quite carefully in the other headings to see if anyone else had already mentioned it - but obviously not carefully enough!

No prob, it was mentioned in already existing threads which made it pretty impossible to trace. The wider forum coverage the better!

[MrGongGong]

Cautious optimism

[Norfolk Born]

...or modified rapture!

[doversoul1]

The Big Picture, a primetime BBC1 six-part series to showcase "hidden heroes" in the visual arts. Ten amateurs will compete to be crowned Britain's best artist.

If this is their idea of promoting Art, I’m afraid I’ll give up all hope. Change ‘arts’ to ‘baking’…

Where do we begin to argue against minds like this?

[teamsaint]

BBC one broadcast around 40 hours of Arts in 2012, including music. A 20% increase isn't going to do much to help there.

DS, don't give up hope. I know its tempting........but nothing is for ever.things can sometimes change for the better.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It probably means they are going broadcast more of the Glastonbury Festival.

[Alison]

The Big Picture, a primetime BBC1 six-part series to showcase "hidden heroes" in the visual arts. Ten amateurs will compete to be crowned Britain's best artist.

If this is their idea of promoting Art, I’m afraid I’ll give up all hope. Change ‘arts’ to ‘baking’…

Where do we begin to argue against minds like this?

Oh no, not another elimination/ejection format!

[teamsaint]

Oh no, not another elimination/ejection format!

they should apply the format to BBC upper level management.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Oh no, not another elimination/ejection format!

Why, oh why does the BBC have to emulate the worst aspects of other broadcasters?