Bye bye radio - Tim Davie departs

[french frank]

Not a forum or R3 announcement, but one which has an intriguing aspect:

It's just been announced that John Smith, CEO of the BBC's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide is stepping down. So? Well, it seems that his replacement has already been chosen by the new DG: Tim Davie, currently Director of Audio and Music, formerly of Pepsi-Cola. The rise and rise continues, but it does look rather as if his appointment to the hugely important post of Director of Audio and Music (succeeding Jenny Abramsky) was just a career stepping-stone. He had been a surprise appointment by Mark Thompson four years ago - a surprise since he had not long joined the BBC and his background was in advertising, not broadcasting, of which he seemed to have no experience at all. This looks like an altogether more appropriate post.

So the next question is: who becomes boss of BBC Radio in his place? Any bets?

[Paul Sherratt]

A most satisfying day for radio.

Sorry ff missed this on my tiny tim device - pull my thread if you wish!

[french frank]

Have deleted it - your thread title was more explicit!

Third video down is the man in action - his message that radio is all about on screen visual material. I assume this is why R3 Facebook is full of photos. Back to the picturebook age ...

[Russ]

This would explain Gwyneth Williams stepping into the archive policy vacuum with her Radio 4 announcement a few days ago, with, seemingly, no financial strings attached.

No idea who Tim Davie's successor might be.

Russ

[Frances_iom]

...- his message that radio is all about on screen visual material. I assume this is why R3 Facebook is full of photos. Back to the picturebook age ...

we will see yet more Americanisation of TV with an eye to the key USA market for the soon to be privatised BBC - Radio I suspect will slide further downhill in expenditure + influence except for R1 and possibly R2 which will soon see more explicit commercial sponsorship than just record plugging.

[Dave2002]

Have deleted it - your thread title was more explicit!

Third video down is the man in action - his message that radio is all about on screen visual material. I assume this is why R3 Facebook is full of photos. Back to the picturebook age ...

I was going to write something about Ladybird books, but that would be unkind to Ladybird. Their books have a lot of factual and usually correct material.

Perhaps colouring books would be more appropriate? They would at least be interactive!

[DracoM]

Vanessa Whitburn.

[french frank]

This would explain Gwyneth Williams stepping into the archive policy vacuum with her Radio 4 announcement a few days ago, with, seemingly, no financial strings attached.

No idea who Tim Davie's successor might be.

I was wondering whether it would be GW ...

According to the Worldwide accounts, John Smith's total pay last year wasn't too bad



Even if he isn't in quite the same league tout de suite, Mr Davie should get a nice increase on his current £349K. Mind you - it is a move back into the world of commerce. BBC Worldwide does trade very profitably.

Vanessa Whitburn.

Who knows? It's a funny old world

[french frank]

More on the Tim Davie story, and why it matters:

'[As Director of Audio and Music he] has overall responsibility for BBC Radios 1, 2, 3, 4, and the BBC digital radio stations 1Xtra, 6Music, BBC 4Extra, and the Asian Network.

He also oversees the three BBC orchestras in England, the BBC Singers, and the BBC Proms; classical music & performance television, factual radio and radio drama production are all within his remit, under the Audio and Music production department.'

The Guardian tips Bob Shennan (Controller, Radio 2) and Roger Mosey (Acting Director of Vision), 'responsible for all of the BBC's TV output' - stopgap appointment following the elevation of Geo. Entwistle to DG.

Given that Davie's move seems to have been part of Entwistle's pitch to become DG, perhaps Mosey was part of the same plan? Otherwise, why not appoint him straight away as Director of Vision?

Both Shennan and Mosey have a solid BBC background in ... sport.

[Paul Sherratt]

To Shennan's credit I do think R2 has become slightly more of a public service broadcaster. Mind you when following on from his beyond-appalling predecessor, he could hardly fail in that.

[french frank]

To Shennan's credit I do think R2 has become slightly more of a public service broadcaster. Mind you when following on from his beyond-appalling predecessor, he could hardly fail in that.

I wonder what, exactly, one learns from the replacement of Aled Jones by Clare Balding on Good Morning Sunday and Mike Harding by Mark Radcliffe on the folk music programme?

[Paul Sherratt]

Not idea about the Balding move, ff. ( Can't wait for her to join forces with Bleak Mark Lawson, some time in the future. It's bound to happen ! ) As for removing these perma-presenters, I'm all for it. The same ( man ) doing the same old programme, week in, week out for several generations, is quite unhealthy ( imo ) They should change them with the seasons ...

[eighthobstruction]

Once again Tim 'Soap' Davie slips and slithers towards the £300K p.a. mark....(has he read Grant Shapps book??)

Johnathon Aitken to take over R2 Blues output....or possibly Hazel Irvine....or Lenny Henry....????

[french frank]

Once again Tim 'Soap' Davie slips and slithers towards the £300K p.a. mark....

According to the Guardian:

"He will be paid a base salary of £400,000, £48,000 less than Smith, and if he achieves his maximum bonus his total remuneration will be £560,000.

This is about 40% less than Smith, who received £950,000 in the year to the end of March. He subsequently waived £52,000 of his bonus."

Pablo - I agree about presenters doing their own show for decades. Or even just one decade.

[Gordon]

And what proud legacy has Davie left behind him then? He's just another surfer, only interested in the next wave.