DELAY ON APPROVAL FOR BBC TECHNOLOGY

THE DELAY in approval for BBC Technology Limited, a subsidiary company of BBC Resources, apparently rests at the feet of the BBC.
The Corporation have not yet submitted their final proposals to Culture Secretary Chris Smith (pictured) and the DCMS regarding the new limited company. The BBC are understood to be compiling detailed legal and financial reports before putting the finishing touches to their submission to the DCMS.
However, the proposed company has already caused controversy within the BBC and with BECTU, which called a ballot on both the terms and conditions offered as well as on the setting up of a separate limited company.
The ballot asked members if they agreed with the set-up of a limited company and if they were content with the terms and conditions offered by the BBC. A majority stated they were not in agreement with Technology becoming a limited company but were satisfied with the terms and conditions offered.
BECTU sent the results of the ballot to Smith with notification that they felt there was no valid reason for Technology to become a limited company.
BECTU Negotiator Luke Crawley said a letter from the Union had been sent to Culture Secretary Chris Smith regarding the ballot results. He said the Union remained hopeful that the views expressed by members would be taken into consideration when the Culture Secretary was deciding whether or not to grant approval for the limited company.
Eileen Philips, Head of Press at BBC Resources, said they could not confirm an exact timeframe for the setting-up of the new company until permission had been given by the DCMS. However, the financial and legal details would be finished soon and when ready this information would be passed to the DCMS for consideration.
The new company will be formed from areas that include Broadcast Technology, which is currently within BBC Resources, Information Technology and Internet, and other parts of the BBC that back up programming support, including communications satellite links and control systems.
Philip Langsdale who is currently Head of Distribution at BBC Resources will head up BBC Technology Limited. (CMcL)