Broadcast News

Bookmark and Share
03/07/2002

Race for Ofcom job heats up

The Times has reported that the government is said to favour two Labour peers for the job of running the new broadcast regulator envisaged in the draft Communications Bill – Ofcom.
The news that Lord Currie and Lord Eatwell are in the frame for the chairmanship of the organisation will be seen by the Opposition as another example of 'Tony's Cronies' invading the more powerful non-governmental organisations in Britain.
Also in the frame are the heads of two of the five bodies that will be swallowed up by the centralising of regulatory agencies – Richard Hooper, chairman of the Radio Authority, and director general of Oftel, David Edmonds. The roles of the ITC and Broadcasting Standards Commissions will also be subsumed by Ofcom.
An outsider in the race for the top post is former Financial Times editor Richard Lambert.
Interviews are expected to conclude shortly and the end of this month has been timetabled for the setting up of a board for the macro-regulator. Following the interview stage, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell will have final say over who becomes Ofcom's first chairman.
The storm over cronyism first emerged when Greg Dyke, a Labour supporter and party donor, was elevated to the job of BBC director general. Then came the appointment of economist Gavyn Davies, also a Labour supporter and party donor, as BBC chairman.
The prominence of Lord Eatwell within the government will see the crony clamour gather gusto as the Labour peer is Lords treasury spokesman and a former adviser to Neil Kinnock. However, Lord Eatwell has refused to comment on the matter "for really quite complicated reasons".
Draft Communications Bill, www.communicationsbill.gov.uk
(GMcG)
Solidmate Ltd Memory Card Hire London

Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.

19/02/2024
Cinelab Film & Digital Appoints Steve Milne As Vice-Chairman
Cinelab Film & Digital has announced the appointment of Steve Milne as Vice-Chairman. An industry heavy weight with an illustrious career spanning ove
21/06/2022
Channel 4 Breached Conditions Of Its Broadcast Licence - Ofcom
An Ofcom investigation has found Channel 4 breached the conditions of its broadcast licence following an extended outage of its subtitling, signing an
06/11/2009
Peer Appointed Channel 4 Chairman
Lord Burns, a former Chief Economic Adviser and Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, has been appointed as the next Chairman of Channel 4, Ofcom has a
02/07/2003
Puttnam forces peace deal from government
Lord David Puttnam, the Labour peer who rebelled against the government's communication bill, has forced a spectacular compromise from Culture secreta
20/05/2011
BBC Trust Chairman Lord Patten To Deliver RTS Fleming Memorial Lecture 2011
The Royal Television Society (RTS), Britain's leading forum for television and related media, has announced that Lord Patten, Chairman of the BBC Trus
12/12/2001
LORD RYDER APPOINTED BBC VICE-CHAIRMAN
DOWNING Street have announced that Lord Richard Ryder of Wensum has been appointed Vice-Chairman of BBC. He will take up the position on January 1, 20
08/02/2023
New Chairman Of Everyone TV Appointed
The UK's leading public service broadcasters - the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 - have appointed Erik Huggers as the new Chairman of free TV plat
04/04/2022
Christie Appoints New Chairman And CEO
Christie® has announced Hideaki Onishi as its new chairman and CEO. With more than 30 years of management experience in various positions within the U
13/01/2022
Dr Matthias Erb Appointed Chairman Of The Executive Board Of ARRI
Dr. Matthias Erb has been appointed Chairman of the Executive Board of ARRI. The announcement was made by the Supervisory Board of the global film tec
14/11/2003
Ofcom announce senior legal team
Ofcom have announced the appointment of the senior legal professionals who will support the new communications regulator in all competition law, regul
02/12/2003
Bectu members vote to stay with Labour
In a postal ballot of almost 26,000 members, more than two thirds of Bectu members have supported the continuation of the union's link with Labour. We
08/10/2004
Union membership drive begins at Ofcom
Bectu and Prospect, the unions for staff of communications regulator Ofcom, are launching a major recruitment exercise this month. After signing a rec
28/01/2004
Restaurant entrepreneur appointed Chairman of Channel 4
The next Chairman of Channel 4 is to be Ivy restaurant entrepreneur Luke Johnson. Industry watchdog, Ofcom announced that Johnson, 42, the Chairman of
05/02/2024
Hiltron Communications Strengthens Management Team
Hiltron Communications has strengthened its management team. Joachim Kärcher steps up to the position of Chairman, succeeded as Managing Director by J
26/09/2002
Jowell names OFCOM Board
The inaugural Board of embryonic communications regulator OFCOM has been named by the Government. New Deputy Chairman Richard Hooper, currently Chair