Mark Thompson “angry” over Times leak

Written by Doug Lambert

Tuesday, 09 March 2010 13:23

BBC director general Mark Thompson has told staff at the corporation that he is “angry” over the Putting Quality First leak that saw The Times publish details of the straegy review weeks ahead of the planned BBC announcement. The Times published details of the report which included the planned closures of BBC Asian Network and BBC 6 Music as well as the scaling back of the corporation’s websites and reductions in the amount of money it spends on sports and acquired programming. The Times article also reported on BBC plans to abandon teen audiences to Channel Four as Switch and Blast, its teen services, were also ear marked for closure.

The leak forced the BBC to bring forward its planned announcement on the finds and recommendations made by the review. The proposals sparked wide-spread protests over the planned closures of 6 Music and the Asian Network with high profile figures speaking out in support of both digital stations and Facebook groups set up to try and save both. The BBC Trust has started a public consultation over the proposals and has stated if there was public support for the continued presence of both stations the BBC will keep them open.

Speaking to staff on the BBC Intranet director general Mark Thompson, who has been widely criticised for the proposals, has stated he is “incredibly angry” over the leak and an investigation has begun to find out who leaked the details to the newspaper. As the investigation gets underway the BBC is still in talks with unions over possibly industrial action over the closures which will see up to 600 jobs axed.