Category : Â鶹Éç
Date : 02.04.2004
Printable version
Statement made by Michael
Grade, newly appointed Â鶹Éç Chairman designate, at a press conference
today (Friday 2 April 2004)
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As you can imagine, this is quite a day for me. It is
some 15 years since I left here as a staff member of the Â鶹Éç - Managing
Director, Television (designate) to be precise.
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Here I am today, Chairman (designate) of the Board of
Governors of the Corporation.
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The appointment of a former broadcasting professional
represents quite a departure from the norm – I believe I am the
first ex-staff member to be appointed as Chairman of the Governors.
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Apart from my obvious pride and delight, I also feel
my experience has prepared me to step into the role at a difficult moment
in the Corporation's history.
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I hope it signals a new approach to Â鶹Éç board appointments
– that people with broadcasting experience can be considered for
a role in the regulation and guidance of this great, cultural institution.
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I would like to thank those who
appointed me for having the courage to break the mould.
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I would also like to pay tribute to my predecessor,
Gavyn Davies, who gave so much to support the ideals of the Corporation
and who showed great courage and dignity in the manner of his departure.
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I take up my appointment on
May 17th.
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Following consultation with the DCMS, I shall be reducing
my portfolio of commitments.
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I shall be resigning from the
Boards of Camelot, SMG and the Television Corporation before May 17th,
as well as from a number of other commercial and pro-bono appointments.
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I shall retain my non-executive Chairmanship of Pinewood
Shepperton and the Chairmanship of Hemscott Group plc.
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A list of these and any other commitments and my investments
will be disclosed in full to the Â鶹Éç Secretary and the DCMS and a system
put in place for dealing with any conflict real or perceived.
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This is not the occasion to discuss the detail of my
thoughts for the future of the Corporation, which I have not yet had
the opportunity to share with the Governors.
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But I can make clear the fundamental
principles which underpinned my candidacy and which will guide my policies:
- first: I remain committed to the Licence Fee as the best means of
funding the bbc for the foreseeable future;
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- second: the regulatory role of the Board of Governors
is in urgent need of clarification, if not repair. In practice, this
means a greater separation between the executive and the Governors;
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- and, third: the editorial independence of the Â鶹Éç
is paramount in maintaining the support of the viewers and listeners.
Without it, there is no point to the Â鶹Éç.
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I should add here for the record that I have never been
a member of any political party, nor have I ever made a donation to
any political party; my voting habits are known only to myself.
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On timetable, clearly my first task is to bring the
search for Greg Dyke's successor as Director-General to a successful
conclusion as soon as possible.
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Greg made a considerable contribution
to the reinvigoration of the Corporation and has left big shoes to fill.
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That is all I am able to say today on the subject of
the next Director-General.
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I must also commend Mark Byford for stepping in at short
notice and keeping the show on the road in such difficult circumstances.
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The morale of the staff of the Â鶹Éç will, I hope, be
lifted by the appointment of a Chairman who believes passionately in
the independence of the Corporation and draws on 25 years of broadcasting
experience in supporting and regulating their endeavours and ambitions.
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The other urgent task is to pick up and lead the final
stages of the Â鶹Éç's Charter review strategy. I
expect to be up to speed very quickly and to meet the Government's review
timetable.
Whatever changes are necessary in the short and long term, one thing
remains constant.
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The Â鶹Éç exists for no other purpose than to serve the
licence paying public.
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Although public service broadcasting
defies easy definitions and prescriptions, its purposes are clear to
me.
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The Â鶹Éç must always be the single place where all our
citizens can be certain to find home grown radio and television programmes
and online services of quality and diversity, reflecting the full range
of their interests, passions and concerns
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This role is ever more important
in a fragmenting, multi-channel, market driven world, not least in its
key role in sustaining an informed democracy.
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The Â鶹Éç's ability to deliver these
public service objectives depends on three pre-conditions: independence;
secure and adequate funding; and freedom from commercial imperatives
that conflict with the wider interests of the listening and viewing
public.
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It is my job, and the job of the whole board, to ensure
that the Â鶹Éç can continue to earn public and parliamentary support so
that the provision of universally available, value for money, public
service broadcasting is neither jeopardised nor marginalised.
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Nothing must be allowed to deprive
our children and our grandchildren of the rich experience we have come
to expect and enjoy these past decades from the British Broadcasting
Corporation.
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Thank you, I will take questions now.
