NWV reaction to BBC Salford Move December 2006

REACTION TO THE BBC’S ANNOUNCEMENT ON SALFORD MOVE

NORTH West Vision, the TV, film and digital media development agency for the Northwest, has welcomed news that plans for the BBC’s Move North are still on track.

Alice Morrison, Chief Executive for North West Vision, said the agency will continue to do all it can to ensure the move goes ahead.

“We have been working closely with the BBC, and its partners, to push this move forward and those efforts will continue. It’s vital that a definitive timetable of action is implemented,” says Alice.

The BBC Governors announced today that the move to Salford of key BBC departments represented value for money for licence fee payers but insisted more work needed to be done before decisions could be taken.

"Today's (Thursday 18th November) announcement is a step in the right direction. The BBC's relocation to Salford and Mediacity:UK will create jobs and opportunities for local talent, and will have a huge impact on the economy. It will also help to redress the current London-centric BBC bias. However, although we welcome this next step, we look forward to a full agreement early next year,” adds Alice Morrison.

”North West Vision will continue to work with the BBC and all the other regional agencies and partners as we’re convinced our support and advice will form an integral part of the development.”

Filming across the Northwest is currently at an all time high. North West Vision's Manchester Film Office, one of five film offices across the region, recorded a huge increase in location filming across the city in the last year. “This can be partly attributed to the BBC's commitment to move to Salford, together with the benefits of our Regional Attraction Fund, a million pound annual initiative designed to grow and sustain a strong TV and digital infrastructure in Manchester,” explains Alice Morrison.