Van Klaveren to support ‘undernourished’ indies
THE controller of BBC Radio 5 Live hopes to reinvigorate the “undernourished” independent production sector in the North.
Adrian Van Klaveren will oversee the move of the BBC’s sport and news station to Salford MediaCity next September.
He has already commissioned a string of Northern productions from a small, £40,000 “kicker” fund and he plans to do more.
Speaking at EMAP’s Media Festival at Manchester’s Palace Hotel Mr Van Klaveren said: “The independent sector is relatively small and has been undernourished to be honest. We’re trying to find ways to get that kick-started and get things moving”. But he conceded that no one would “get rich” from BBC radio commissions.
The first fund commissioned programmes by Manchester’s All Out, Input Media North and Made in Manchester. Oldham-based Savvy and St Helens-based Woolyback also picked up commissions along with Yorkshire’s Pearl Works and Soundscape.
Mr Van Klaveren told TheBusinessDesk another fund would be available next year. “It does mean ideas that wouldn’t otherwise get made, get made.” He added: “We will be looking at what else we can offer to indies.”
More cash will be available for commissions following a review by the BBC Trust earlier this year which concluded a further 10% of radio programming will be opened up to independents on top of the 10% quota already in place.
He also said 5 Live will soon be commissioning for its Sunday morning slot and is also interested in Christmas-themed one-offs.
He added: “It’s certainly a good thing to encourage indies from all parts of the North. That’s going to create a creative community but it will also resonate with the audience if you’ve got programmes being made in places like York.”
