Product Placement
Ben Bradshaw confirmed yesterday – in a written ministerial statement, readable HERE – that the government will allow product placement. He pointed out that, apart from Denmark, the UK was the only European Union member state that had yet to allow television product placement or express a firm intention to do so:
‘Not to do so would jeopardise the competitiveness of UK programme-makers as against the rest of the EU, and this is something which we cannot afford to do.’
ITV has responded:
‘While we do not necessarily agree with the restrictions placed on certain categories [see coverage of restrictions HERE], it is a step in the right direction as it will deliver additional revenue for investment in original content in the UK’
See more in the Guardian HERE; Independent HERE; Telegraph HERE and FT HERE.
Salaries and expenses at the BBC (and an expensive cab at the Arts Council)
The BBC yesterday revealed that £54m in the last financial year was paid to a group of ‘top talent’ presenters, such as Jonathan Ross and Jeremy Paxman, who earn £150,000 or more annually. The highest paid stars’ earnings from the BBC accounted for 1.55% of the £3.49bn licence fee income during in year to 31 March 2009.
The BBC continues to refuse to reveal how much individual talent is paid and yesterday also declined to reveal how many individuals earned £150,000 or more in its last financial year. However, a report compiled by consultants Oliver & Ohlbaum for the BBC Trust in 2008 revealed that around 40 stars earned more than £1m a year (see more HERE). That suggests that the £54m wage bill for top earners is shared by fewer than 100 individuals. In a Guardian interview on Monday, HERE, Sir Michael Lyons, the BBC Trust chairman, warned that future pay deals for talent and executives would be tougher:
‘We are simply not going to see what the public regard as excessive salaries, so [the BBC] must be harder in negotiations and much more willing to walk away’ See more in the Guardian HERE; Independent HERE and HERE; Times HERE; Telegraph HERE.
As part of its move for greater transparency the BBC also yesterday published second quarterly details of expenses for the corporation’s 107 most senior executives, covering July to September 2009. Details of this group’s gifts and hospitality register were also published for the first time, for the six months to the end of September. The BBC Radio 3 controller, Roger Wright, spent more than £3,000 on taxis, on which more in the Guardian HERE; Times HERE; and Telegraph HERE.
BBC execs aren’t alone; Dame Liz Forgan, chair of Arts Council England, is also in the news for claiming £431 for one taxi journey. More HERE.
Fashion
It was announced yesterday that the British Fashion Council is joining forces with Bafta are to ‘create and develop links between London’s fashion and film industries’. This is ground-breaking stuff. The stage is now set to make next week – when London fashion week and th Baftas coincide – the most glamorous week in the capital’s history. After the huge success of September’s 25th anniversary London fashion week, the upward trajectory seems set to continue. As noted in today’s Guardian HERE, the partnership is a match made in heaven – The ‘British Oscars’ takes place bang in the middle of the week when British fashion designers are showcasing their new collection on the catwalks. On the one hand, you have actresses on the look-out for the perfect dress with which to rule that red carpet; on the other, you have designers desperate for the world to see their frocks shown off to their best advantage. Brilliant!
In other news, Burberry’s Fashion Week show – at The Chelsea College of Art, on the afternoon of February 23rd – is to go 3D. The show will be streamed simultaneously to invitation-only, custom screening sites, designed by Bailey, and fully-equipped with 3D goggles, in New York, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo and Los Angeles. Burberry’s chief creative officer, Christopher Bailey said:
‘3D technology will bring our global audience into the London show space, allowing them to see the colours and fabrics, to hear the music and to be a part of that moment when it all finally comes together.’
Burberry is teaming up with Sky to fully utilise its 3D technology for the innovative project, which will include pre-show entertainment hosted from behind the scenes, backstage footage and red carpet arrivals. Read more HERE.
