BBC director general Mark Thompson hopes Manchester will become 'significant creative cluster'
BBC director general Mark Thomson has highlighted his hope that, as a result of the BBC’s move to MediaCity in Salford, the city will become “one of the most significant creative clusters” in Britain.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Thompson outlined his vision while launching a report on the benefit that the BBC brings to the economy.
Addressing the Confederation of British Industry, Thompson said that the BBC was ‘determined’ spread out licence fee ‘fairly’ across the UK and that it would aim to reflect its audience ‘more accurately’ within its content, while support local creative businesses.
“By moving production and commissioning teams to Salford, the BBC is building on the rich heritage of the northern creative industries to help develop it as one of the most significant creative clusters in the UK,” he added.
The report says that creative companies within Manchester will benefit from being able to use resources at the BBC, and share knowledge and expertise with it also.
Training across the region and opening up opportunities within the region are also highlighted by the report, as the BBC aims for half of its network commissions to be produced outside of London by 2016.