CBI dismisses BBC negativity

BUSINESS group CBI North West has dismissed fears over the success of the BBC’s move to MediaCityuk.

It has branded suggestions in the national press that the broadcaster will struggle to be accepted in the North as ‘absurd and ill-informed’.

Assitant regional director Giles Fletcher says there is great excitement and positivity about the move in the North West.

He said: “The BBC move to the north is one of the most significant moments for our regional economy in a generation.

“The region’s 31,000 creative firms are at the very heart of this.  There has been a lot of negative press recently about the move but it is not coming from people in the North West area.

“It is absurd the BBC should be anxious about being rejected by its northern neighbours and many of the ill-informed views are being generated by people with little knowledge of the North West.”

Fletcher, pictured,  spoke out after the Sunday Times reported that internal papers revealed the broadcaster is worried it may not succeed in boosting its popularity in the region.

The internal documents obtained by the newspaperr under the Freedom of Information Act revealed the BBC is also worried about the cost of MediaCity and the loss of key staff.

Sian Williams, the BBC Breakfast presenter, Chris Hollins, a BBC Breakfast sports presenter and Gabby Logan, a sports presenter on television and radio, are among those unwilling to relocate.

BBC Director General Mark Thompson will be the keynote speaker at the CBI North West annual regional dinner.

Mr Thompson will use his speech to set out the economic benefits of the move to the regional economy at the dinner, on September 8, at The Point, Lancashire County Cricket Club.