New era for England: 成人论坛 announces major changes to services across the country
The 成人论坛 will “reinvent and refresh” its offer in England - including 成人论坛 local radio and regional TV news - to ensure it is providing the best possible services to all audiences across the country.
Published: 16 January 2019
We’re going to reinvent and refresh what we do in England to ensure we reflect all of the country’s diverse communities while providing services in ways people want them.
Plans announced today include the launch of an exciting digital platform aimed at young audiences in England and a simplified leadership structure across the country as the 成人论坛 seeks to improve its offer to English audiences.
The changes include:
- The Social, the award-winning online platform created by 成人论坛 Scotland viewed by millions of online users each week, will be expanded into England, giving young people an opportunity to create content for the 成人论坛.
- Continuing the work already underway to reinvent Local Radio so it owns local conversations, fully reflects the diverse communities it serves and becomes the front-door for new talent into the 成人论坛, uncovering and nurturing the broadcasting stars of tomorrow.
- A new approach to content commissioning for TV and online; exploring opportunities to create more content for English audiences by working with other parts of the 成人论坛.
- The leadership of 成人论坛 England will be reworked to a structure based around platforms rather than geography. A Head of News and Head of TV Commissioning will be appointed alongside the Head of Audio and Digital with an overall reduction in the number of senior managers.
The plans have been announced today by the Director of 成人论坛 England, Helen Thomas. The aim is to ensure the 成人论坛 in England adapts to changing audiences, develops successful digital products, continues to provide trusted local news online, on television, and on radio and reflects modern England in all its content.
Helen Thomas says: “成人论坛 England is in a strong position. Our regional TV news bulletins at 6.30pm are collectively the most watched news programme on UK TV. Six million people listen to our local radio stations each week. People value the services we offer.
“But there are significant groups who don’t engage enough with what we do. England is changing and audience behaviour is changing too. This presents us with a challenge and an exciting opportunity.
“We’re going to reinvent and refresh what we do in England to ensure we reflect all of the country’s diverse communities while providing services in ways people want them.
“We will be about more than news - we will own local conversations and reflect life in modern England, recognising the different audience demands in different parts of the country and what that means for our output. And we will become the 成人论坛’s front-door for new talent, the place where the broadcasting stars of tomorrow are uncovered and nurtured.”
The changes will be introduced throughout 2019. The new strategy builds on the work already underway in 成人论坛 local radio.
In 2018, in the biggest shake-up of 成人论坛 local radio in a generation, each station launched 15 hours of new original content every week after local programming was reintroduced into weekday evening schedules.
The new evening shows have a diverse mix of presenters and subjects, with many of the presenters getting their first broadcasting break. They include a Bradford grime artist, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield Magid Magid and a finalist from The Voice. The shows target audiences that have not traditionally tuned into local radio.
The Social will be launched in England in the coming months. In Scotland, it reaches millions of young people every week across the 成人论坛 website and social media platforms. In England, it will allow the 成人论坛 to help young people tell their stories and provide an important new pipeline for emerging talent.
成人论坛 England will explore opportunities to commission more TV and online content for English audiences. It will work within the 成人论坛 to find opportunities to create more content for people in England, across a broader range of genres.
The proposed leadership restructure is the biggest change to the structure of 成人论坛 England in 50 years. There are currently ten head of regions and a head of digital. These posts will close. There will be six new senior editorial roles - a Head of News and a Head of TV Commissioning and four regional leads covering the North, the Midlands, the East and South East and the West and South West. Chris Burns, who was announced in 2018 as the Head of Audio and Digital, will continue to lead local radio. It means the number of senior managers will reduce from eleven to eight.
Helen Thomas says: “These changes will ensure we have a clear management structure. We’ll also be saving money as the number of senior managers will be reduced.
“We want to have clear leaders for all our services and operate in terms of platforms rather than geographical locations. Ultimately, this is all about providing a better experience for our audiences.”
GB