A different parochial perspective
The BBC has been moving some of its light programming out of London and into the regions. The most recent move, of Morning Live to Manchester, will offer a broader perspective on the whole of the UK
, according to an ex-sportswoman-turned-daytime TV presenter. This is, of course, utter bollocks.
It takes more than simply moving programming from one location to another to broaden perspective across the country. Even as different programmes are moved to different regions, viewers would have to watch all of it to gain a countrywide perspective, if such a thing is even feasible from watching talking heads. And the viewing indications are that fewer people want so much BBC.
But this is only daytime TV: the refuge for stay-at-home parents; pensioners; students during school holidays; and the unemployed. No one should expect too much from its presenters.
The BBC show's content editor Martin Bruce said being based outside London would allow it to have a different perspective of life. "As you walk through the city, immediately you're soaking up everything that's going on in the north-west and in Manchester," he said. "Any of the team, when they come in, are going to be seeing that every single day. I think it's really important to be living that life and in amongst it all."
Mr Bruce has a better grip on reality: they've simply shifted from one parochial vantage point to another. A programme made in the north-west of England will be no more or less relevant to viewers in Portsmouth or Aberdeen, than if it'd been made in London.
Speaking on Friday, BBC director general Tim Davie said: "I think for me it is utterly critical that we take our output and push it outside the M25. "That is not really about saving money, it is about spending licence fee payers' money across the UK. And we know that that infuses itself into the programme-making."
Of course it's not about saving money, Tim. In just the same way that a move to a modern office environment
is solely to enable open communication and increased collaboration
. (rolleyes)
There's nothing wrong with saving money, especially when it's the dwindling and soon-to-be-axed licence fee. But be honest about it. Why pretend a higher motivation when it is so transparently undeliverable?